China and Russia reacted on Tuesday to the unprecedented announcement by the United States that it maintains weapons in orbit, warning about the risks of space militarization. Beijing stated that space dominance could become a "battlefield," while Moscow advocated that space remain "free" of weapons.
Washington's announcement confirmed something that was already widely known, but analysts assess that the timing chosen to make it could worsen tensions with Beijing and increase the risk of a space arms race.
The American declaration marks a new phase in the competition between great powers for the development of space military resources, driven by rapid technological advances and the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework for space.
