Europe is Waking Up to the Space Threat
Space is increasingly being recognized as a domain for military operations, prompting calls for doctrinal shifts and greater agility in space intervention, according to space force leaders from various NATO countries at the Space Defense and Security Summit. Brig. Gen. Jürgen Schrödl of the German Ministry of Defense’s strategy and operations division noted that the traditional rule-based international order in space is diminishing, and that space is evolving into a warfighting domain.
This perspective represents an escalation from previous years, when summit participants discussed mounting threats to orbital assets without explicitly categorizing space as a field of conflict. Defense spending, which has recently overtaken civil investment in government space budgets, reflects this changing sentiment. In 2024, over $73 billion was allocated globally to space defense and security, with more than a third classified, indicating a notable shift toward military priorities.
The proliferation of anti-satellite weaponry - over 200 such systems are currently in orbit - highlights the increased complexity and risk to allied space infrastructure, including communications and Earth observation satellites, as reported by Brig. Gen. Christopher Horner, commander of 3 Canadian Space Division. Maj. Gen. Vincent Chusseau, commander of French Space Command, emphasized the rapid acceleration of hostile activities in space, stating that it is now a fully operational military domain. He outlined Russia’s extensive capabilities, ranging from proximity operation satellites and deployable orbiters to anti-satellite missiles, electronic warfare tools, lasers, and cyber weapons. Maj. Gen. Isaac Manuel Crespo Zaragoza of the Spanish Air and Space Force highlighted China’s ongoing efforts to achieve dominance in space.
In 2024, the United States led global space defense spending with $53.1 billion, followed by China at $9.3 billion, Russia at $2.3 billion, and France at $2.1 billion. Germany, with $655 million in expenditures, has recently shifted its position, recognizing space as a warfighting domain, according to Maj. Gen. Michael Traut, commander of the German Space Command. Maj. Gen. Traut stressed the tactical evolution of space operations facilitated by technological advances, necessitating faster kill chains and integration with missile defense systems. Germany plans to establish a military space-defense architecture by year’s end to enable multi-domain operations, starting with a multifunctional, multi-orbit constellation projected for completion in 2029.
There is a growing need for a unified space doctrine among allies to address asset protection and countermeasures against adversarial actions. The development of such a doctrine remains an unresolved issue, according to Traut.
While Canada’s official stance stops short of publicly designating space as a warfighting domain, Brig. Gen. Horner acknowledged the shift in discourse and the importance of developing offensive and defensive strategies to safeguard critical infrastructure in space. He advocated for rapidly deployable, tactically responsive capabilities rather than relying solely on large, stationary systems. Germany’s Schrödl underscored the deterrent value of responsive satellite launches, noting frequent incidents and deliberate interference with German satellites, notably from Russian sources both terrestrially and in orbit.
Lt. Gen. Bertrand Le Meur of the French Armed Forces Ministry pointed out the cost asymmetry between NATO’s high-value space assets and relatively inexpensive offensive capabilities developed by potential adversaries. As technology becomes more accessible, the number of nations capable of developing such systems is expected to rise.
In summary, beyond longstanding functional uses such as Earth observation and communications, there is an increasing emphasis on operational capabilities designed specifically for space. These include both defensive and offensive measures, signifying a strategic shift, as articulated by German leadership: “Defensive and offensive means shield and sword.”