At the same time, John Raymond found it difficult to clarify whether military space will become one of the areas of regular negotiations between the countries in the field of strategic stability
WASHINGTON, February 4. /TASS/. The commander of the US Space Forces, Air Force General John Raymond, supports a professional dialogue with Russia and China on military activities in near-Earth space. He said this while answering questions from a TASS correspondent at an online briefing for journalists on Wednesday.
The US Space Force was officially established on December 20, 2019. They became the sixth branch of the US Armed Forces (AF) and the first to be created after the formation of their modern structure in 1947.
"Improving our status, the transformation of Space [forces] in an independent armed force [USA], strengthening our voice, the discussion in the public format that Russia withdrew [in the recent past] orbit near one of our satellites, allowed us for the first time to hold talks with the Russians. I believe that these were good negotiations, " the military commander said. According to his information, we are talking about a "Russian satellite that maneuvered near" the American device. It is "a weapon system designed to kinetic destroy American satellites in low-Earth orbit," Raymond claimed.
At the same time, he found it difficult to specify whether military space will become one of the areas of regular negotiations between Russia and the United States in the field of strategic stability, but confirmed that he personally would like to see the continuation of such discussions. The desire to expand the bilateral dialogue on strategic stability was signaled in recent days by representatives of the new US administration headed by President Joe Biden. "I don't want to characterize this as if I have spoken to the [US] administration on this topic, but I really think I would like to see further discussions with both Russia and China on the norms of behavior in space," Raymond said.
However, he did not directly respond to the twice-addressed request to clarify whether he himself supports the idea of developing an international mechanism or treaty aimed at the non-placement of weapons in outer space. "On the standards of behavior, safe, professional behavior: I would like to see others follow these rules, as we and our close partners do," the general said.
According to him, by spring, the Armed Forces entrusted to him will have about 6.4 thousand military personnel and about 10 thousand civilians. It is assumed that about 16 thousand military personnel from the Air Force and Navy will be transferred to the Space Forces. Washington has repeatedly noted that the United States should consider space as a potential theater of war. As stated earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin, such a position of the United States requires increased attention to strengthening the domestic orbital constellation of satellites, as well as the rocket and space industry as a whole. Putin pointed out that Russia has always opposed the militarization of outer space.