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Launching of new Space Command is expression of Trump’s vanity: Analyst

Friday, 30 August 2019 5:54 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 30 August 2019 6:04 PM ]

US General John W. Raymond (R) and President Donald Trump pose during an event establishing the US Space Command in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, August 29, 2019. (AFP photo)

The launching of new Space Command by the United States is an expression of US President Donald Trump’s vanity, according to James Jatras, a former American Senate foreign policy analyst.

Trump on Thursday established a new Pentagon command dedicated to warfare in space as Washington considers China and Russia its rivals in the new military frontier.

"This is a landmark day, one that recognizes the centrality of space to America's security and defense," Trump said in a White House ceremony on Thursday.

"SpaceCom will ensure that America's dominance in space is never threatened,” he said.

The Space Command will be responsible for planning and carrying out space operations. It is a new organizational structure within the Pentagon that will have overall control of military space operations. It will have 87 units at its launch with abilities including missile warning, satellite operations, space control and space support.

Trump has long expressed concerns about the growing military capabilities of Russia and China beyond Earth. He has insisted such a move is necessary to tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert US dominance in orbit.

PressTV-Trump launches new Pentagon force for space warfare

US President Donald Trump launches a new Pentagon command dedicated to warfare in space.

Jatras, a former Senate foreign policy adviser in Washington, told Press TV on Thursday that the “launching of new Space Command by the United States seems to be something of a pet project for President Trump. Some people would see this as just as an expression of his vanity – perhaps there is an element to that – but he says this is because of increased activities of Russia and China in outer space.”

“I think it’s necessary to put those concerns into a bigger context. For example, the cancellation of the INF agreement, talk about bringing the Chinese and Russians into a new and better agreement, which is not going to happen, rather than trying to find other avenues for competition with these countries, which can only endanger our security and the security of other countries and peace of the world,” he added.

“I think it is necessary to try to find a way to step back from this kind of militarization, not only in space but of Europe, the South China Sea, and other areas and find areas of cooperation especially in demarcation of interests among three major powers – Russia, China and of course the United States,” the analyst noted.

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