{"id":42550,"date":"2018-06-21T19:04:28","date_gmt":"2018-06-21T19:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/21\/russia-warns-of-a-tough-response-to-creation-of-us-space-force\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:54:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:54:27","slug":"russia-warns-of-a-tough-response-to-creation-of-us-space-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/06\/21\/russia-warns-of-a-tough-response-to-creation-of-us-space-force\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia warns of a \u2018tough response\u2019 to creation of US space force"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Russian diplomats and politicians are promising repercussions if President Donald Trump\u2019s order to build a U.S. space force<\/a> is met, citing a treaty banning nuclear weapons<\/a> in outer space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Militarization of outer space<\/a> is the path to disaster,\u201d Victor Bondarev, head of the Russian Parliament\u2019s Upper House Committee on Defense and Security, told state media<\/a> Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dLet’s hope the American political elite still have the remnants of reason and common sense,\u201d Bondarev said. \u201cBut if the United States withdraws from the 1967 treaty banning nuclear weapons in outer space, then, of course, not only ours, but also other states, will follow with a tough response aimed at ensuring world security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bondarev appeared to be referencing the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, one of several \u201cnon-armament\u201d treaties that sought to prevent \u201ca new form of colonial competition\u201d in the cosmos, according to the U.S. State Department\u2019s archives<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bondarev\u2019s warning comes after Trump directed Pentagon leadership to set up a sixth, space-oriented branch within the U.S. military. <\/p>\n\n\n\t