NATO Secretary General Rutte: Russia's development of nuclear capabilities in space is concerning.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Russia is considering using nuclear weapons against satellites in space, which would constitute a violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

NATO is concerned that Russia may be considering deploying nuclear weapons in space to target satellites. In a statement to the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Secretary General Rutte warned about this possibility. Rutte noted that Moscow's capabilities in space are outdated compared to the West. "Therefore, the development of nuclear weapons in space is a way for Russia to enhance its capabilities. This is a very concerning situation," he said. While the weapons may not target the Earth, hitting satellites could have serious consequences, as many systems we use rely on satellites, including navigation and communication systems, as well as environmental monitoring. Rutte also added that such a move by Russia would violate the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, signed at the time by the US and the Soviet Union. This treaty still outlines the framework of international space law and prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in space. According to Rutte, NATO allies are adapting to new challenges by sharing intelligence and developing better-protected satellites. "In recent years, space has become increasingly crowded, dangerous, and unpredictable. We know that competition in space is very intense and is becoming more severe. This is not just in a commercial sense. This situation affects all our security," he said.