© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Consultant Mike Turner (R-OH) questions the witnesses throughout a Home Armed Providers Committee listening to on “Ending the U.S. Army Mission in Afghanistan” within the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing in Washington, U.S., September 29, 2021. R
By Patricia Zengerle, Steve Holland and Jonathan Landay
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -America has informed Congress and allies in Europe about new intelligence associated to Russian nuclear capabilities that would pose a global menace, a supply briefed on the matter informed Reuters on Wednesday.
The brand new capabilities, associated to Russian makes an attempt to develop a space-based weapon, don’t pose an pressing menace to the US, the supply mentioned.
The intelligence got here to gentle after Consultant Mike Turner, Republican chair of the U.S. Home of Representatives intelligence committee, issued an uncommon and cryptic assertion on Wednesday warning of a “critical nationwide safety menace.”
Sources later mentioned the warning was associated to Russian capabilities in area, associated to satellites. One of many sources mentioned the difficulty is critical, however just isn’t associated to an lively functionality nor ought to or not it’s a trigger for panic.
“I’m requesting that President Biden declassify all info referring to this menace in order that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can overtly focus on the actions essential to answer this menace,” Turner mentioned within the assertion, offering no additional info.
Citing a present and a former U.S. official, the New York Instances reported earlier that the brand new intelligence was associated to Russia’s makes an attempt to develop a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon. ABC Information reported earlier that the intelligence needed to do with such a functionality. Present and former officers mentioned the nuclear weapon was not in orbit.
Turner’s assertion was launched within the midst of debate in Congress over how the US ought to be coping with international threats from Russia and different rivals, with safety hawks urging larger international involvement and a few lawmakers most intently allied with Republican former President Donald Trump advocating for a extra isolationist “America First” method to world affairs.
Turner not too long ago returned from main a bipartisan congressional delegation to Ukraine, after which he warned fellow lawmakers that point was operating out for Ukraine in its battle in opposition to Russian invaders.
The Biden administration has been ramping up its criticism of Home Republicans for presumably blocking a $95 billion invoice handed by the Senate that will provide assist to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Supporters of the invoice argue {that a} main motive for the US to again the federal government in Kyiv is to push again in opposition to threats from Russia that stretch past Ukraine.
‘NOT A CAUSE FOR PANIC’
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch Trump ally who says he is not going to rush to permit a vote on the Senate invoice, informed reporters on the Capitol there was no want for public alarm. “Regular arms are on the wheel. We’re engaged on it and there is no want for alarm,” he mentioned.
Senators Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, the Democratic chair and Republican vice chair, respectively, of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a joint assertion saying their panel has the intelligence in query and has been “rigorously” monitoring the difficulty.
A supply acquainted with the matter mentioned Warner and Rubio had been briefed on the menace weeks in the past. The supply mentioned the difficulty was not unrelated to the safety spending invoice, however there isn’t any direct tie between them.
Consultant Jim Himes, the highest Democrat on the Home intelligence panel, mentioned the difficulty in Turner’s assertion is important, “however it’s not a trigger for panic.”
Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s nationwide safety adviser, declined to supply specifics. He mentioned he had organized a briefing for Thursday with congressional leaders with administration intelligence and protection professionals, and that he was stunned by Turner’s resolution to situation the assertion.
“I am not ready to say something additional right this moment,” Sullivan informed a briefing. “Like I mentioned, I stay up for the dialogue with (Turner) and clearly from there we are going to decide tips on how to proceed, however standing right here on the podium right this moment I am unable to share something additional.”