Pence leaves open the possibility of nuclear weapons in space: ‘Peace comes through strength’

By Robert Costa
October 23 at 3:30 PM

Vice President Pence on Tuesday declined to rule out the idea of deploying nuclear weapons in space, saying that the current ban on their use is “in the interest of every nation” but that the issue should be decided on “the principle that peace comes through strength.”

“What we need to do is make sure that we provide for the common defense of the people of the United States of America, and that’s the president’s determination here,” Pence said in an interview with The Washington Post, when asked whether nuclear weapons should be banned from orbit.

Pence added, “What we want to do is continue to advance the principle that peace comes through strength.”

The new positioning comes as the Trump administration moves to potentially exit a major nuclear weapons pact with Russia and possibly bolster U.S. military operations in the heavens by forming a “Space Force.”

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty outlawed weapons of mass destruction in space, including nuclear weapons, and prevented the arms race between the United States and the former Soviet Union from entering space.

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