Mysterious flying objects shot down over North America likely not spy balloons, Biden says
President Joe Biden said Thursday that three unidentified flying objects shot down last weekend over North American airspace were “most likely” balloons tied to private companies or research institutions, not part of China’s surveillance spy balloon operation.Â
Biden, delivering his first public address on the mysterious objects amid bipartisan pressure from lawmakers demanding more information, defended having the objects shot down even if they posed no direct threat to the U.S.Â
“We acted out of an abundance of caution and had an opportunity that allowed us to take down these these objects safely,” Biden said, also stressing there’s “no evidence” that more flying objects are in the sky than usual.
Biden says ‘aerial objects’ not looming threat; Georgia Trump grand jury excerpts released: live updates
The president’s remarks mirrored those of national security officials who, after initially offering few details about the objects, have become increasingly convinced in recent days the objects were benign balloons that posed no harm. Biden said countries, companies and research organizations each operate objects at high altitudes that are “not nefarious, including legitimate scientific research.”
Unidentified flying objects might have been research or commercial balloons, White House says
Biden says he expects to speak to China’s Xi
Addressing the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4, Biden said he expects to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the matter.
White House rules out aliens, but still can’t say who is behind unidentified flying objects
Complicating the search for more clues, the U.S. has not yet retrieved debris from the three objects because each is in remote areas with difficult conditions and two are in bodies of water.Â
New ‘sharper rules’ ordered for unidentified flying objects
Biden said he’s directed his administration to create “sharper rules” for how to deal with unidentified flying objects in the future to distinguish between those that pose safety and security risks and those that don’t. He said these parameters, which will be classified, will guide future responses to unidentified objects.
“But make no mistake. If any object presents a threat to the safety and security of the American people, I will take it down,” Biden said.
The president said he ordered national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead efforts to better prepare the U.S. for future unidentified objects. That includes establishing an inventory of unmanned aerial objects in U.S. airspace and new measures to detect objects in the sky.
Biden said his administration will also update rules and regulations to launch and maintain unmanned flying objects. In addition, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been tasked with creating a set of “common global norms” for unmanned flying objects.
Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.