Canada briefed on intelligence White House says concerns Russian weapon – National | 24CA News
Canada has been briefed on U.S. intelligence that the White House publicly confirmed Thursday includes Russia’s “troubling” growth of an anti-satellite weapon, a senior authorities official informed Global News.
The official spoke on background to substantiate the briefing on intelligence that has but to be declassified by the United States.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated U.S. intelligence officers have data that Russia has obtained the aptitude however that such a weapon will not be presently operational. He stated U.S. officers are analyzing the intelligence and have consulted with allies and companions on the matter.
“First, this is not an active capability that’s been deployed and though Russia’s pursuit of this particular capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone’s safety,” Kirby stated. “We’re not speaking a couple of weapon that can be utilized to assault human beings or trigger bodily destruction right here on Earth.’’
The growth of the weapon nonetheless presents a nationwide and world safety menace, Kirby stated, as a result of it might have the aptitude to disrupt satellite tv for pc networks used for all the things from communications to army logistics. He wouldn’t affirm studies that the weapon has nuclear capabilities, however did say it might be space-based.
The Department of National Defence referred Global News’ questions on the intelligence to feedback Defence Minister Bill Blair made to 24CA News on Thursday, the place he stated he has been assured “additional clarification” shall be coming from the U.S.
“There is obviously concern within the United States about this,” he stated within the interview from Brussels, the place he was attending a gathering with NATO defence ministers.
“We are in discussion with our allies and very satisfied with the sharing of the information, but I think it’s most appropriate to leave it to (the U.S.) to comment on their intelligence and the response to it.”
A spokesperson for the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service stated the company “cannot comment on the nature or substance of closed-door meetings held with partners,” however that U.S. and Canadian intelligence officers “regularly confer on national security matters.”
The White House confirmed the intelligence after a imprecise assertion was issued Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee, warning of a “serious national security threat.” The assertion urged the Biden administration to declassify the intelligence, which he stated he and different congressional nationwide safety committee leaders had seen.
That assertion led to a number of U.S. media studies revealing the menace concerned a Russian anti-satellite weapon that could possibly be deployed to house and have nuclear capabilities. The studies cited nameless sources that had been briefed on the intelligence.
Kirby stated Thursday that the method of reviewing and declassifying details about the Russian functionality was underway when Turner “regrettably” launched his assertion. That course of contains informing allies and companions, in addition to working with the intelligence group to make sure declassified language doesn’t expose the sources behind the intelligence.
“We have been very careful and deliberate about what we decide to declassify, downgrade and share with the public,” he added.
In a brand new assertion Thursday that appeared to defend his actions, Turner stated his committee labored with the Biden administration to inform Congress concerning the intelligence and that the language used to take action was cleared by the White House, which agreed the matter was “serious.”
The assertion didn’t clarify, nevertheless, why his preliminary public warning contained no particular details about the menace or if he had been licensed to take action.
Lawmakers from each events have criticized Turner’s actions, saying he brought on pointless panic.
Republican Rep. Andy Ogles despatched a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday asking for a proper inquiry into Turner’s actions, suggesting with out proof that his intent was “not to ensure the safety of our homeland and the American people, but rather to ensure additional funding for Ukraine.”
“This act constituted poor judgement at a minimum and a complete breach of trust influenced by the pursuit of a political agenda at a maximum,” Ogles stated within the letter, which was obtained by Global News.
That argument was additionally utilized by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who stated in remarks carried by Russian news companies that the allegations had been supposed “to force Congress to vote on the (Ukraine) aid bill by hook or by crook.”
Peskov in any other case downplayed the U.S. concern concerning the functionality.
Turner has been among the many most vocal Republicans in assist of approving extra Ukraine support, a problem that has divided his celebration which controls the House of Representatives. Johnson has stated he is not going to convey a Senate-passed nationwide safety funding invoice that features US$60 billion for Ukraine to a vote.
The space-based functionality would violate a global house treaty to which greater than 130 nations have signed on, together with Russia, Kirby stated.
He added the Biden administration is seeking to interact the Russians instantly on the issues, that are a part of the method of declassifying the intelligence.
Asked to reply to Peskov’s feedback concerning the motivation behind releasing the knowledge, Kirby stated merely: “Bollocks.”
—with information from the Associated Press
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
