Russia and China Urge US to Keep Weapons Out of Space After US Space Force Deploys On-Orbit Weapons

Russia and China issued a joint statement on September 15, 2026, urging the United States to avoid the deployment of weapons in space. The statement came in response to the US Space Force's confirmation of having deployed on-orbit space control weapons, a capability that allows for the interception or destruction of satellites. The US Space Force did not provide specific details about the nature or number of weapons deployed, but the announcement was widely reported by multiple international outlets. The deployment of such weapons has raised alarms among global powers, with Russia and China emphasizing the risks of an arms race in space. The US Space Force has not yet commented on the diplomatic backlash, though it has previously defended its space operations as necessary for national security. The event marks a significant escalation in the geopolitical discourse surrounding the militarization of space.