At the same time, John Raymond found it difficult to clarify whether military space would become one of the areas of regular negotiations between countries in the field of strategic stability.
By Dmitry Kirsanov of TASS
February 3, 2021
WASHINGTON, February 4. / TASS /. Commander of the US Space Force, Air Force General John Raymond, advocates a professional dialogue with Russia and China on military activities in near-Earth space. He announced this, answering questions from a TASS correspondent on Wednesday at an online briefing for journalists.
The U.S. Space Force was officially established on December 20, 2019. They became the sixth branch of the US Armed Forces (Armed Forces) and the first to be created after the formation of their modern structure in 1947.
"Raising our status, turning the Space [forces] into an independent branch of the [US] armed forces, strengthening our voice, discussing in a public format that Russia has put [in the recent past] into orbit next to one of our satellites, has allowed us for the first time in a long time to negotiate with the Russians. I think these were good negotiations, "said the military leader. According to him, this is a "Russian satellite that maneuvered near" the American spacecraft. It is "a weapon system designed to kinetically destroy US satellites in low-Earth orbit," Raymond argued.
At the same time, he found it difficult to clarify whether military space would 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 such discussions continue. The desire to expand bilateral dialogue on strategic stability has been signaled in recent days by representatives of the new American administration, headed by President Joe Biden. “I don’t want to characterize this as if I spoke on this topic with the [US] administration, 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 avoided a direct answer to the twice asked him to clarify whether he himself supports the idea of developing some kind of international mechanism or treaty aimed at the non-deployment of weapons in outer space. "According to the norms 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 the spring the armed forces entrusted to him will be about 6.4 thousand servicemen and about 10 thousand civilians. It is assumed that the Space Forces will be transferred to approximately 16 thousand military personnel from the Air Force and Navy. Washington has repeatedly noted that the United States should view space as a potential theater of war. As Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier, this 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 opposed and opposes the militarization of outer space.
Others:
https://insidedefense.com/insider/space-force-considering-role-tactical-intelligence-mission
https://www.defensedaily.com/biden-administration-plans-move-ahead-space-rules-road/pentagon/
https://breakingdefense.com/2021/02/army-navy-funds-unlikely-for-space-force-until-2023/
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/space/space-force-mulls-tactical-intel-satellite-development
https://www.axios.com/biden-keeps-space-force-37b7385c-cd67-40b1-a6f9-64021765d6d2.html
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/02/space-force-is-here-to-stay-for-the-biden-years.html
https://news.yahoo.com/cant-hug-satellite-general-addresses-204048441.html
https://spacenews.com/space-force-eyes-closer-ties-with-civil-space-its-good-for-taxpayers/
http://www.portaltotheuniverse.org/blogs/posts/view/753767/
https://insidedefense.com/insider/space-force-considering-role-tactical-intelligence-mission
