Moscow: US Seeks to Use Space as Theatre of War, Refuses Discussion with Russia

TEHRAN (FNA)- The head of the Russian General of Staff, Andrei Sterlin, stated that the United States is looking to use space as a theatre of war, condemning Washington for its refusal to engage in talks on the non-deployment of weapons with Russia and China.

"The Pentagon considers space as a potential theatre of military operations and demands to maintain complete freedom of manoeuvre in this direction. In this regard, the United States refuses to hold talks on the basis of the Russian-Chinese draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in space and the formation of an international legal framework limiting its ability to use space for military purposes”, Sterlin noted, according to RIA Novosti.

US President Donald Trump in February signed a directive to establish a new Air Force branch, the US Space Force, which will focus on global surveillance, missile targeting, and countering Chinese and Russian hypersonic weapons, among other priorities.

Russia condemned the move, calling on the United States to avoid an arms race in space. China echoed Moscow's stance, stressing that Washington is trying to justify its supremacy in space by undertaking this step.