Turkey condemns deployment of space weapons after American weapons reach orbit

Erdogan slammed the growing arms race in outer space during opening of International Astronautical Conference in Antalya Erdogan became the first Nato leader to condemn the deployment of weapons in space after Washington acknowledged it sent weapons to outer-space (Supplied) Published date: 5 October 2026 17:14 BST | Last update: 8 sec ago Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the deployment of weapons into outer space, following recent disclosures that armed military assets have already been placed in Earth’s orbit. Speaking at a high-profile space conference attended by diplomats and space agency representatives, Erdogan called for the cosmos to remain peaceful for scientific exploration rather than the next arena of military conflict. "Sending weapons to space, or turning space into a ground for an arms race, will be totally wrong," Erdogan told the International Astronautical Conference (IAC) in Antalya, southern Turkey on Monday. "It will be a direct threat to the joint future for humanity, and I see that this race is becoming widespread - which, of course, we do not welcome." Erdogan is the first Nato leader to issue a condemnation of space weapons after the United States last month publicly acknowledged for the first time that it had deployed a space weapon into Earth’s orbit. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Israel had also hinted at plans to develop space weapons to defend Israeli satellites from hostile spacecraft and weapons capable of striking Earth from outerspace. US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink confirmed that the “on-orbit” weapon had been placed in Earth’s orbit to counter “evolving threats,” but did not say when it was put into orbit. 'It will be a direct threat to the joint future for humanity, and I see that this race is becoming widespread - which, of course, we do not welcome' - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Meink also did not specify the weapon’s capabilities but said the United States had “space-control weapons,” which refer to the US policy of seeking to maintain “space superiority”. Previously, senior US military leaders hinted at plans to boost its military capabilities in space, citing Russia and China creating programmes to attack and disrupt US satellites in a future conflict. China condemned the US announcement and called on Washington to “stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space”. A 1967 treaty banned weapons of mass destruction in orbit. Since then, however, major powers, including China, Russia and the US, have explored capabilities outside the treaty's scope, including targeting rival satellites crucial for military communications, surveillance, and navigation. The Turkish president also used his address at the 77th IAC to cement Turkey’s place in the space sector by outlining plans to build a spaceport in Somalia and send Turkish astronauts to the moon. The summit represents a major milestone for Turkey as it hosts the IAC for the first time, which takes place every year, bringing together space agencies, commercial firms, and international delegates. Established in 1950 during the Cold War to maintain scientific lines of communication, the annual summit serves as a platform for governments and private entities to announce mission architectures, sign bilateral agreements, and discuss global space policy. Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.