Western Allies Ramp Up Space Efforts to Counter China and Russia

 

At the recent Defense Space 2024 conference, US and European officials emphasized the urgent need for increased collaboration in the space sector to address growing threats from China and Russia. Cyberattacks, GPS interference, and space debris pose significant risks to Western countries, according to US Space Command General Stephen Whiting.

 

“Space is a team sport,” Whiting stated, urging nations to work together to protect their forces from these threats. Several European allies are heeding this call, accelerating their military space plans and investing in their own orbital assets.

 

A major milestone in this effort came in June when NATO established a dedicated space branch, led by a French officer. In July, a British Air Marshal became the first foreign officer to join the US Space Force’s command staff, further solidifying the growing alliance in space.