The United States military has once again detected a mysterious balloon that recently flew over the country, prompting concerns about the possibility of foreign nations using such devices for espionage. As per a report from The Daily Wire, officials in the US are currently tracking the unidentified object as it heads towards Mexico after passing over Hawaii.
According to a piece published by NBC News, the US military started tracking the strange balloon around April 28, 2023. However, officials remain uncertain about the origin and nature of the balloon. At this stage, the authorities have clarified that it does not pose a direct threat to the country.
Worries about foreign espionage using balloons were initially raised in February 2023, when a balloon of Chinese origin flew over the continental United States. The members of President Joe Biden’s administration initially refused to shoot it down, citing safety concerns. However, it was eventually shot down over South Carolina. By then, it had already managed to send significant amounts of data related to military installations back to Beijing, despite initial claims from the Pentagon that such attempts had been thwarted.
While officials do not believe that the latest balloon is from China, a report from the Daily Mail suggests that they are still assessing whether or not to shoot it down if it approaches land.
The balloon’s nature and purpose remain unclear. There are no indications that it has maneuverability, leading to speculations that it could be a scientific device designed for weather experiments or potentially a more sinister tool for espionage purposes.
When asked for comment, a spokesperson for the National Security Council directed the media to forward all inquiries related to the balloon to the council. The spokesperson did not provide any immediate response.
