Russia Is 'An Acute Issue', Says Top U.S. Space Force Official

Washinhton/15.03.23/Turan: China remains U.S.'s pacing competitor in the space arena, while Russia is currently is "an acute issue", a senior representative of the United States Space Force told TURAN's Washington correspondent on Friday.

Speaking to reporters at the at the Foreign Press Center in New York, Maj Gen John Olson, Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of Space Operations, reminded that there's already a red phone — a red line — between the U.S. and Russia, and "that is very important. It can be used for any particular matter of importance."

"... Our modern way of integrated deterrence, of defense, of security, of cooperation, collaboration, verification – and we hope that it remains a peaceful and safe environment, but we also are absolutely preparing to support and defend those interests of the United States and our partners and allies.  And that’s both offensively and defensively," he said.

When asked by TURAN about the Space Force’s role in helping Ukraine, Maj Gen Olson said that space is "indeed an integral part" of the activities in Ukraine from the perspectives of awareness, action, and outcomes.

According to him, the war in Ukraine has been "certainly a kinetic and a war of attrition, but it is also the first war of cognition."

He went on to elaborate: "What I mean by that is space has shown to have a profound impact in terms of visualization, in terms of awareness, in terms of monitoring the logistics and the movements and the progress, in terms of weapons and targeting, in terms of information transfer and flow.. So what we have seen is that for the first time that the incredible convergence of industry and of governments and of an international – a strong international coalition led by NATO and led by united countries of likeminded support for the rule of law and for the – supporting the people of Ukraine, this is very important."

As the youngest branch of the U.S. military, the Space Force recently turned three-years-old.

Maj Gen Olson also serves as an Air Force Reserve officer, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this week.

Alex Raufoglu