Space Security Crisis? The EU’s Plan to Stop Space From Becoming the Wild West
4th Feb 2025
The EU needs to strengthen its ability to counter threats in space and expand the bloc’s mutual defence clause to include space-based threats. This was stated by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas in her address to the 27 EU member states at the European Space Conference in Brussels last Wednesday.
Europe Should Protect Its Security in Space
The former Estonian prime minister said that outer space is as contested as land, sea, air, or cyberspace today and warned of possible armed conflicts in space.
Kallas added that hybrid warfare is already being waged in space. One manifestation is the systematic jamming of GPS and Galileo satellite navigation signals, which causes significant disruptions and can force aircraft to land.
According to Kallas, the growing risks to satellites, ground infrastructure, and the EU space industry from kinetic, electronic, and high-energy weapons should be the focus of attention.
‘When we protect space, we protect our economy. The security of our satellites is the security of our societies,’ the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs added.
The constant threats of espionage and nuclear weapons in orbit have already reached discussions within the UN Security Council.
As another example of the growing tensions in space, she cited the
Russia’s anti-satellite missile launch incident and a cyberattack on the space system shortly before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
EU Space Shield
The new call for a more vigorous EU defence comes as the EU considers a more coordinated approach to space security.
Until now, EU countries have often worked separately in this area, so Kallas called for closer cooperation.
‘This is what we have been working towards in the EU Strategic Compass for Security and Defence and the Space Strategy for Security and Defence.
This will also be reflected in the forthcoming White Paper on the Future of Defence and the Readiness Strategy.’, Callas said.
Shortly before, Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, raised the issue of each member state joining forces in a coordinated ‘European Space Shield’ to protect critical space assets.
EU Priorities In Space Security And Defence
Continuous Monitoring Of Space Threats
The EU has a classified annual threat landscape analysis to understand who is doing what in space and what might pose a threat. This analysis utilises real-time intelligence on threats in orbit from Member States and their National Space Commands.
Quick Response to Space Threats
A timely and quality response to emerging space risks requires identifying the threat and its source’s response to the attack, including immediate active countermeasures and political-economic pressure on the source with tools such as sanctions.
Last December, the EU imposed sanctions for the first time in connection with hybrid attacks, including against a covert Russian military intelligence unit that conducted cyberattacks.
The third element of this priority concerns mutual defence. Article 42.7 of the Treaty on the European Union applies if an EU member state is a victim of armed aggression on its territory. This could refer, for example, to an attack in space or on space infrastructure.
Strong Collaboration On Every Level For Space Security
Last but not least is the priority of security and defence in space.
Within the EU, Member States need a stronger security culture among public and private space actors. Information sharing is key here. This helps to build a pan-European ‘shield’ and improve defence systems.
On a bilateral level, Kallas said the EU should collaborate with the US and other partners such as Australia, the Republic of Korea, and Japan.
‘The US is the EU’s most important partner for security on the ground. We should be allies in space as well,’ she said.
At the multilateral level, the EU works with NATO and the UN on issues ranging from the sustainability of satellites to training our workforce for the future of space.
NATO remains the principal security guarantor for most member states, but the EU, not NATO, owns and manages space assets.
The UN is the key forum for space diplomacy. It is led by the EU Special Envoy for Space, who works with partners and non-aligned states.
Space Dominance Race Demands EU Unity
Kallas concluded her speech by pointing out the need to continue working to establish norms for responsible behaviour in space.
She reminded that cooperation is more important than ever in an era of competition.
‘There is a real risk of space becoming a Wild West where only the hardiest survive. We cannot allow that to happen. Together, we are always safer and stronger.’, Kaya Callas summarised her speech.
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