U.S. Acknowledges Operational Weapons in Space, Raising International Concerns

The U.S. Secretary of the Air Force announced that the United States has operational weapons in orbit, marking the first official acknowledgment of such capabilities. The announcement drew swift protests from China and Russia, who urged the U.S. to stop expanding its military force in space. While international law generally permits conventional weapons in space, the Outer Space Treaty prohibits weapons of mass destruction and imposes constraints on military activities on the Moon and other celestial bodies. Experts warn that deploying or acknowledging such capabilities may fuel an arms race in space and reinforce negative perceptions of the U.S.