US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed on Monday that the United States has stationed "space control weapons" in Earth's orbit, designed to defend US forces against hostile actions. The announcement marks a significant new chapter in the militarization of space, drawing sharp reactions from China and Russia.

"Today, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist," Meink said at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference. "This is why the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action." However, he provided no details on the type, number, or location of these weapons.

Experts suggest these weapons are likely electronic warfare or jamming platforms rather than kinetic ones. "We don't know exactly what the mechanism of the weapon is. I would expect there to be some kind of electronic warfare or radio-jamming platform. This would be a non-destructive kind of anti-satellite weapon, and these variants already exist on Earth," Bleddyn Bowen, associate professor at Durham University, told BBC Radio 4.

China and Russia condemned the move. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun urged the US to "stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called for space to remain "free of any weapons." The announcement has heightened international tensions over the weaponization of space.

Analysts warn that the US move could accelerate a space arms race and encourage other nations to follow suit. "This is incredibly destabilizing and will work against US national security goals," Victoria Samson of the Secure World Foundation told Al Jazeera. "By opening the door to weaponizing space, the US loses the most. Every person on this planet uses space-based data and services in some way. Any interference with access to or use of space will affect everyone, not just space powers."

Source: www.aljazeera.com