Russia Criticizes U.S. Space Policy as Aggressive, Warns of Potential Arms Race

On March 19, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth's statements regarding America's intention to 'dominate space.' According to Jin10, Zakharova highlighted that U.S. policies in space exploration and security are becoming increasingly aggressive. She pointed out that American officials openly declare their aim to achieve military dominance in near-Earth space, citing Hegseth's remarks from February as an example. Zakharova expressed concern that the international community will not ignore these actions. She warned that the U.S. deployment and enhancement of military capabilities in near-Earth space could trigger a space arms race, undermining global security and strategic stability. Zakharova emphasized that the U.S. overlooks the obvious fact that any armed conflict in orbit would have catastrophic consequences for the long-term sustainability of space activities and the prospects for space development for all nations. She reiterated that Russia will continue to make constructive efforts to enhance space security and protect the interests of all humanity.