A new space defence policy recently set by United States President George W Bush [Images] opposes any arms control treaty that would limit US actions in space, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.
The newspaper said that Bush has signed a new document on national space policy that claims a US right to block space access to any power hostile to American interests.
The policy states: 'Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power.'
The Post quoted Bush Administration officials as saying that the new document represents an overdue update of US policy on space -- with satellites and other high-technology increasingly vital to US weapons systems -- but denying any intentions to directly place weapons in orbit.
It was not clear when the new policy was signed by Bush, how the newspaper obtained the document or whether the government would make the policy public.
DPA