Security policy: NATO boss: Russia thinks about nuclear weapons in space

NATO is concerned that Russia could soon use nuclear weapons in space. “We are aware of reports that Russia examines the opportunity to place nuclear weapons in space,” said NATO boss Mark Rutte of “Welt am Sonntag”. Moscow skills in space are “outdated” and not at the level of the West. “That is why the development of nuclear weapons in space is a way for Russia to improve its skills. This is very worrying.” These so-called anti-satellite weapons were not directed against the earth, but against satellites. Shoting up satellites could trigger a chaos on earth, since many systems on earth can only be used with the help of satellites.

According to “Welt am Sonntag”, Rutte warned of a break in the space contract from 1967. This stipulates peaceful use of space. The contract was ratified by a large part of the states, also by Russia and the USA.

“In recent years it has become more and more dangerous in space, more dangerous and unpredictable. We know that the competition in space is violent and becomes more and more bitter. And not only in commercial terms. That concerns all of our security,” said Rutte of the newspaper.

According to the media report, NATO decided in 2021 that the assistance obligation according to Article 5 also applies to attacks in or from space. Article 5 states that an armed attack against one or more Allies is considered an attack against everyone. This alliance case was only triggered in the history of NATO – to support America, according to the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.