As a journalist who has been updated on the matter, the United States has shared new intelligence on Russian nuclear capabilities with Congress and its European allies. The capability is still under development, and Russia has not deployed it, so it does not pose an urgent threat. The intelligence is highly classified and cannot be declassified without revealing its source. The information is related to Russia’s attempts to develop a space-based antisatellite nuclear weapon, but the weapon is not in orbit.
Representative Michael R. Turner, Republican of Ohio and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has called on the Biden administration to declassify the material. His statement has caused tension with the White House, as officials fear the loss of important sources of information on Russia. The House Intelligence Committee has taken the unusual step of voting to make the information available to all members of Congress, but it is not clear in what context the intelligence was presented.
The intelligence has led to a political standoff over whether the United States should be mobilizing resources to counter Russian threats to Ukraine. Former President Donald J. Trump has encouraged opposition to funding for Ukraine.
The new intelligence is considered serious and essential, but not an immediate crisis. Representative Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut, and Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, acknowledge the seriousness of the issue but are cautious about releasing information that could expose the methods of collection.
At the White House, when asked if Americans should be worried, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said it was “impossible to answer with a straight ‘yes.'” He assured that President Biden would take necessary measures to ensure the security of the American people.
Representative Jason Crow, Democrat of Colorado, described the new intelligence as one of several “volatile threats” facing the United States that require attention. Speaker Mike Johnson urged calm and emphasized the need for cooperation in addressing the matter.