The State Department is pursuing space arms control agreements - TopicsExpress

The State Department is pursuing space arms control agreements without formal coordination at the Pentagon, and two members of Congress warned yesterday that such an accord would undermine U.S. national security. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R., Col.) and Sen. David Vitter (R., La.) wrote to Frank A. Rose, deputy assistant secretary of state for space and defense policy on Wednesday, requesting an explanation for what they suggested was space arms control freelancing. Lamborn said he organized a letter to Rose because of worries the State Department is working on an international space arms agreement that could limit U.S. space capabilities. “Any proposal for a space code of conduct or an outer space arms control treaty should only be considered by the United States if it clearly improves our national security and does not limit our own freedom of action in space,” Lamborn told the Free Beacon in a statement. “I am particularly concerned by the potential that State Department officials may be proposing agreements without any consideration for the national security implications of their proposals,” he added.