Western Powers Sound Alarm on Rising Space Threats Amid Russia Tensions

Major General Vincent Chusseau of the French Space Command has highlighted increasing hostile activity in space, particularly by Russia. The conflict in Ukraine underlines space as a new operational domain, with growing threats to satellites. Western nations are boosting defenses and prioritizing resilience against espionage and attacks.

France's military space chief, Major General Vincent Chusseau, has sounded the alarm over escalating hostile activities in space, notably from Russia, in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, space-related threats have intensified, particularly in satellite disruption strategies such as jamming, lasers, and cyberattacks.

The conflict underscores space as a vital operational theater. Although France publicly accused Russia of espionage in 2018, detailing a Russian spacecraft's covert maneuvers, recent activities remain undisclosed. The Kremlin denies deploying space weapons, advocating against their presence in orbit, while China rapidly advances its space capabilities.

Western nations, including the UK, Canada, and the US, are increasingly vocal about the threat to economic and military reliance on satellites, spurring efforts to strengthen space defenses. Germany is advancing multi-orbit satellite defenses, while France accelerates programs to ensure resilience against and capacity for a spectrum of space-based actions.

(With inputs from agencies.)