US Security Threat - USAGM
Metadata
- US Security Threat - USAGM
- February 16, 2024
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English US – SECURITY THREAT HEADLINE: Russia Developing ‘Anti-Satellite Capability,’ White House Confirms TEASER: Top Washington officials say Russia is developing space-based ‘anti-satellite capability’ that could violate treaty against nuclear weapons in space PUBLISHED: 2/15/2024 at 8:17p.m. BYLINE: Anita Powell CONTRIBUTOR: Patsy Widakuswara, Jeff Seldin, Katherine Gypson DATELINE: Washington VIDEOGRAPHER: Wires, Zoom VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: Holly Franko, Sharon Shahid, DJ (bal) VIDEO SOURCE (S): Wires, Zoom PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 2:44 VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko TYPE: EDS:)) ((INTRO)) [[Russia is developing an anti-satellite weapon, the White House confirmed Thursday, after a lawmaker sounded an alarm over what he described as a serious national security threat. While White House officials say it could land Moscow in violation of a treaty banning weapons of mass destruction in space. They said it is not an urgent threat, and urged Americans not to panic, as lawmakers met behind closed doors to discuss the issue. Anita Powell reports from Washington.]] ((Mandatory Courtesy: AFP / Russian Defense Ministry)) ((NARRATOR)) All eyes are on the skies after Washington confirmed that Russia — seen launching a rocket earlier this month — is working on technology that the White House says could violate a treaty banning weapons of mass destruction in space. ((Radio: John Kirby is White House national security communications adviser.)) ((John Kirby, White House Spokesperson)) “I can confirm that it is related to an anti-satellite capability that Russia is developing. I want to be clear about a couple of things right off the bat. First, this is not an active capability that's been deployed. And though Russia's pursuit of this particular capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone's safety. We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on Earth.” ((NARRATOR)) Congress met Thursday for a closed-door briefing on the matter. ((Radio: Representative Mike Turner heads the House Intelligence Committee, and is the person who sounded the alarm Wednesday about the threat.)) ((Rep. Mike Turner, Republican)) “We all came away with a very strong impression that the administration is taking this very seriously and that the administration has a plan in place.” ((NARRATOR)) Pentagon officials said the U.S. Space Force is poised to defend. Analysts say the U.S. military is clear-eyed about the dangers above our heads. ((Radio: Todd Harrison is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who focuses on defense and space policy.)) ((Todd Harrison, American Enterprise Institute)) ((Zoom)) “Whereas in the past space was a secondary priority for all of the other military services, now it is the top priority for someone in the Pentagon, and they really are starting to move forward on this.” ((Mandatory Courtesy: AP / SpaceX)) ((NARRATOR)) Many of our earthly activities — from global positioning systems that govern mass transportation, to military systems, to weather satellites — are controlled from space. ((Mandatory Courtesy: AP / China News Service)) ((NARRATOR)) Harrison said other countries are aware of this, too, and have been developing their own military technology. ((Todd Harrison, American Enterprise Institute)) ((Zoom)) “We use space for so many different things in the military, that if an adversary can take space away from us and deny us the ability to use those space systems, they would negate one of our biggest advantages in the U.S. military. So, that's why other nations, like Russia and China in particular, have been developing these anti-satellite capabilities for years now.” ((NARRATOR)) Kirby, who said Russia may be violating the Outer Space Treaty with this act, said Washington’s first move is diplomatic. ((John Kirby, White House Spokesperson)) "We plan to engage directly with the Russians about this, and as well as allies and partners.” ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: AP / NASA)) Arms controls experts note that the 1967 treaty doesn’t specify consequences. But, they say, a violation would alarm other major powers. ((Radio: Daryl Kimball is executive director of the Arms Control Association.)) ((Daryl Kimball, Arms Control Association)) ((Zoom)) “This would affect the global economy, the society writ large. So, China would be deeply concerned. India would be extremely concerned — countries that Russia has better relationships with than they do with us. So, I think there would be stinging rebuke. That might be enough to encourage Russia to back down.” ((MUST CREDIT NASA in this vid of Soyuz launch, AP-4478305)) ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: AP / NASA)) So what now? Watch this space. ((Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington))
- Transcript/Script US – SECURITY THREAT HEADLINE: Russia Developing ‘Anti-Satellite Capability,’ White House Confirms TEASER: Top Washington officials say Russia is developing space-based ‘anti-satellite capability’ that could violate treaty against nuclear weapons in space PUBLISHED: 2/15/2024 at 8:17p.m. BYLINE: Anita Powell CONTRIBUTOR: Patsy Widakuswara, Jeff Seldin, Katherine Gypson DATELINE: Washington VIDEOGRAPHER: Wires, Zoom VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: Holly Franko, Sharon Shahid, DJ (bal) VIDEO SOURCE (S): Wires, Zoom PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 2:44 VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko TYPE: EDS:)) ((INTRO)) [[Russia is developing an anti-satellite weapon, the White House confirmed Thursday, after a lawmaker sounded an alarm over what he described as a serious national security threat. While White House officials say it could land Moscow in violation of a treaty banning weapons of mass destruction in space. They said it is not an urgent threat, and urged Americans not to panic, as lawmakers met behind closed doors to discuss the issue. Anita Powell reports from Washington.]] ((Mandatory Courtesy: AFP / Russian Defense Ministry)) ((NARRATOR)) All eyes are on the skies after Washington confirmed that Russia — seen launching a rocket earlier this month — is working on technology that the White House says could violate a treaty banning weapons of mass destruction in space. ((Radio: John Kirby is White House national security communications adviser.)) ((John Kirby, White House Spokesperson)) “I can confirm that it is related to an anti-satellite capability that Russia is developing. I want to be clear about a couple of things right off the bat. First, this is not an active capability that's been deployed. And though Russia's pursuit of this particular capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone's safety. We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on Earth.” ((NARRATOR)) Congress met Thursday for a closed-door briefing on the matter. ((Radio: Representative Mike Turner heads the House Intelligence Committee, and is the person who sounded the alarm Wednesday about the threat.)) ((Rep. Mike Turner, Republican)) “We all came away with a very strong impression that the administration is taking this very seriously and that the administration has a plan in place.” ((NARRATOR)) Pentagon officials said the U.S. Space Force is poised to defend. Analysts say the U.S. military is clear-eyed about the dangers above our heads. ((Radio: Todd Harrison is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who focuses on defense and space policy.)) ((Todd Harrison, American Enterprise Institute)) ((Zoom)) “Whereas in the past space was a secondary priority for all of the other military services, now it is the top priority for someone in the Pentagon, and they really are starting to move forward on this.” ((Mandatory Courtesy: AP / SpaceX)) ((NARRATOR)) Many of our earthly activities — from global positioning systems that govern mass transportation, to military systems, to weather satellites — are controlled from space. ((Mandatory Courtesy: AP / China News Service)) ((NARRATOR)) Harrison said other countries are aware of this, too, and have been developing their own military technology. ((Todd Harrison, American Enterprise Institute)) ((Zoom)) “We use space for so many different things in the military, that if an adversary can take space away from us and deny us the ability to use those space systems, they would negate one of our biggest advantages in the U.S. military. So, that's why other nations, like Russia and China in particular, have been developing these anti-satellite capabilities for years now.” ((NARRATOR)) Kirby, who said Russia may be violating the Outer Space Treaty with this act, said Washington’s first move is diplomatic. ((John Kirby, White House Spokesperson)) "We plan to engage directly with the Russians about this, and as well as allies and partners.” ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: AP / NASA)) Arms controls experts note that the 1967 treaty doesn’t specify consequences. But, they say, a violation would alarm other major powers. ((Radio: Daryl Kimball is executive director of the Arms Control Association.)) ((Daryl Kimball, Arms Control Association)) ((Zoom)) “This would affect the global economy, the society writ large. So, China would be deeply concerned. India would be extremely concerned — countries that Russia has better relationships with than they do with us. So, I think there would be stinging rebuke. That might be enough to encourage Russia to back down.” ((MUST CREDIT NASA in this vid of Soyuz launch, AP-4478305)) ((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: AP / NASA)) So what now? Watch this space. ((Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington))
- NewsML Media Topics Conflict, War and Peace
- Topic Tags Security Threat
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date February 15, 2024 20:34 EST
- Description English Russia is developing an anti-satellite weapon, the White House confirmed Thursday, after a lawmaker sounded an alarm over what he described as a serious national security threat. While White House officials say it could land Moscow in violation of a treaty banning weapons of mass destruction in space. They said it is not an urgent threat, and urged Americans not to panic, as lawmakers met behind closed doors to discuss the issue. Anita Powell reports from Washington.