Putin's 'Space Nuclear Weapon': Why Even the US Opposes Its Deployment [News in War History]

US Advises Restraint on Deploying Space Nuclear Weapons
1967 'Outer Space Treaty' Reduced to Scrap
Global Communication Networks Paralyzed if Space Nukes Used

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The world is on edge as Russia is suspected of deploying satellite-intercepting nuclear weapons in Earth's orbit, capable of destroying satellites belonging to the United States, Europe, and other Western countries. Although Russia vehemently denies this, the deployment of such weapons could lead to catastrophic disasters if an interception scenario occurs or if an accidental explosion happens due to mishandling.

In the past, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the 1967 Outer Space Treaty to prevent such situations, but the treaty has effectively lost its power amid the severe deterioration of relations between the West and Russia. If Russia proceeds with the actual deployment of space nuclear weapons, the United States and China are also likely to rush to deploy defensive nuclear weapons, raising the risk that Earth's exosphere could become a battleground for nuclear competition.

In this segment, we will explore how serious the issue of space nuclear weapons is by examining the history of the space arms race among major powers that has continued since the Cold War.

"US Advises Russia to Refrain from Developing and Deploying Space Nuclear Weapons Through Private Contacts"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Let's start with the news. On the 22nd (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing U.S. government officials, reported that "the United States has privately contacted Russia directly to warn against deploying nuclear weapons in space," adding that "the U.S. and Russia communicated through channels between Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, and Yuri Ushakov, the diplomatic advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin."

Earlier, Bloomberg News also reported, citing sources, that "the U.S. government informed its allies that Russia could deploy nuclear weapons or mock warheads in space as early as this year." Within U.S. political circles, Russia's deployment of space nuclear weapons is viewed as a very serious national security threat if it materializes.

Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally stated that he "firmly opposes" space nuclear weapons and that they will never be deployed, the United States and Western countries remain skeptical of this claim. The New York Times (NYT), citing officials, suggested that Russia's satellite attack capabilities are related to space-based nuclear weapons targeting U.S. satellites, raising the possibility that Russia's space nuclear arsenal already possesses operational capabilities.

The 1967 'Outer Space Treaty' Becomes Ineffective... Will Nuclear Deployment in the Exosphere Become a Reality?

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

If Russia deploys nuclear weapons in Earth's orbit targeting satellites, it would be a direct violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. This treaty was established during the Cold War between the United States and Russia to prevent accidental nuclear war by prohibiting the deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space aimed at each other.

The Outer Space Treaty has been signed by 107 major countries, including the United States, China, Russia, and South Korea. Its main provisions prohibit the placement of weapons and the use of force in outer space beyond Earth's atmosphere and on celestial bodies such as the Moon, declaring that outer space belongs to no country. Consequently, no country's laws apply in outer space.

However, in practice, this treaty has become largely ineffective. In the 1960s, when the treaty was signed, space development was a national-level project with no room for private companies. Today, space development is driven by private enterprises. On the 23rd (local time), the unmanned lunar lander 'Odysseus,' built by the American aerospace company Intuitive Machines, successfully achieved the first private lunar landing.

In other words, while national activities are regulated, private companies operate without regulation and without any applicable national laws, raising the possibility of a lawless environment. Russia, which has already employed mercenary companies in the Ukraine war and various African civil conflicts, could allow private space companies to be armed, easily circumventing the loopholes of the Outer Space Treaty.

Irreparable Damage from Space Nuclear Attacks or Accidental Explosions... Concerns Over Communication Network Disruptions

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

If Russia indeed uses various tricks to circumvent the Outer Space Treaty and deploys space nuclear weapons in satellite orbits, other countries like the United States and China are expected to follow suit. This would place all countries on Earth in a situation where they must live under the threat of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.

The problem is that if a conflict arises between countries and these nuclear weapons are used to intercept the opponent's satellites, or if a deployed nuclear weapon malfunctions and explodes, an uncontrollable mega-disaster could occur.

In particular, if Russia uses nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons capable of completely disabling satellites for interception, most countries' satellite communication networks could be temporarily paralyzed, and nuclear fallout could fall to Earth.

According to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), as of April last year, there were approximately 7,800 satellites in Earth's orbit. If these satellites are destroyed or rendered inoperable by a nuclear explosion, large-scale communication network chaos could ensue.

Even a single EMP detonation could cause a chain reaction destroying or damaging about one-third of all satellites, plunging Earth's communication systems into major turmoil. Moreover, since most commercial satellites are clustered in low Earth orbit below 2,000 km altitude, nuclear fallout could spread worldwide after an explosion. Given the difficulty of finding countries unaffected by such damage, the international community is urged to reach an agreement to prevent such tragedies from occurring in advance.