U.S. briefs Canada, other allies about national security concern involving Russia

The U.S. has informed Congress, as well as Canada and other allies about a pressing national security concern involving Russia.

The New York Times, citing unnamed officials, reported Wednesday that the U.S. revealed new intelligence about Russian nuclear capabilities that could pose an international threat. A senior source with direct knowledge of the briefing confirmed that Canada was among the allies briefed by the U.S. on the issue.

Citing a current and a former U.S. official, the newspaper reported the new intelligence was related to Russia's attempts to develop a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon.

Current and former officials said the nuclear weapon was not in orbit, the newspaper reported.

Earlier Wednesday, the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence committee issued an unusual cryptic statement saying the committee had made available to all members of Congress information about an unspecified «serious national security threat» that sources said was related to Russia.

«I am requesting that [U.S.] President [Joe] Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat,» Rep. Mike Turner said in the statement, without providing further information.

Turner's statement was released in the midst of intense debate in Congress over how the United States should be dealing with global threats from Russia and other rivals, with security hawks urging greater global involvement. Some lawmakers most closely allied with former U.S. president Donald Trump advocated for a more «America First» approach to world affairs.