The militarization and weaponization of space: Towards a European space deterrent

Defensive in its first decades, the use of space for military purposes has now become offensive. The concept of militarized outer space has been replaced by that of “weaponized” outer space. The international law in space only strictly prohibits putting weapons of mass destruction into orbit. The threat of conventional arms development, mainly targeting the destruction of operational military satellites, is one which may not be prevented simply by diplomatic activity, an approach to which France has been wholeheartedly committed. In this context, a “European space deterrent” could be based on the expression of a strong European foreign policy and on the development of independent means for orbital surveillance of ballistic and space launches, and indeed on retaliation if attacked, including a rapid response capacity and small dedicated launchers. This would seem to secure a space which, used for the social and economic development of France and Europe, will become increasingly important in the next few decades. Such an asset would place Europe on an equal footing in dialogues with the USA in the context of a NATO equipped with interoperable space assets.