러시아ㆍ유라시아

Why would Russia, the first nation to put a satellite and human into orbit, want to develop space weapons that could make parts of space unusable for up to a year? At first glance, it may be difficult to decipher Russian motivations. In 1939, British prime minister Winston Churchill famously observed that Russian decisionmaking was “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma . . .” Understanding Russia’s desire to develop indiscriminate counterspace weapons, including a nuclear anti-satellite capability, means recognizing that one of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s top goals has always been to weaken the stature and influence of the United States. Because the United States maintains unrivaled advantages and prestige in space, while conversely Russian space equities have declined, there is no better domain in which Russia can erode U.S. standing.