Russia: US steps to develop missile defense confirm turning space into an arena for confrontation.

Moscow - January 31, 2025 (LANA) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed today, Friday, that her country considers the recent steps taken by Washington in the field of missile defense as confirmation of the United States' intention to turn space into an arena for armed confrontation.

The Russian Sputnik News Agency quoted Zakharova in a press briefing, commenting on Washington's recent decisions in the field of missile defense, "They explicitly stipulate strengthening the US nuclear arsenal and means of carrying out combat operations in space, including the development and deployment of space interception systems. We see this as another confirmation of the United States' focus on turning space into an arena for armed confrontation."

She explained that she was referring to US President Donald Trump's recent instructions to intensify and expand the national anti-missile project to a scope comparable to the "Star Wars" during the era of US President Ronald Reagan.

Zakharova added that this measure was the "first sign" of the White House's decisions to develop and intensify highly destabilizing military-technical programs.

She noted that such decisions by the United States will not help ease tensions in relations between Moscow and Washington.

=Lana=