Open Letter to the US, UK, and Allied Space Defense Communities: An Urgent Call to Action for Addressing Space Security

To Members of the Allied Space Defense Communities: Space is under-funded, under-prioritized, and remains highly vulnerable.

Space is no longer a distant frontier - it is the invisible infrastructure holding modern life together. From global communications and navigation to national defense, the security of the space domain underpins the safety and prosperity of all nations. But today, we stand at a critical crossroads. Data clearly shows that growing threats demand not only our attention, but immediate and unified action.

The conditions in space have outpaced the ability to effectively mitigate the monumental risks. This letter is a call to action for the international allied community to acknowledge these challenges and address them with the data-driven urgency they demand.

The Challenges Ahead

The threats to the space domain are not theoretical; they are real and rapidly growing in both activity and complexity. They include:

1. Nefarious Activities: Interference, espionage, and kinetic attacks targeting space assets jeopardize global stability.
2. Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Weapons: The development and deliberate testing of these systems destabilizes global security and generates dangerous debris that threatens all nations.
3. Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: The exploitation of weaknesses in space-based systems can cripple critical infrastructure worldwide.
4. Orbital Debris: With millions of fragments of space debris now in orbit, the threat of catastrophic collisions increases every day.
5. Orbital Congestion: The rapid growth of satellite constellations has turned Low Earth Orbit (LEO) into an increasingly hazardous environment, complicating safe operations.

The Need for Global Support

The United States has long led efforts to ensure the safety, security and sustainability of space, but today's challenges and geopolitical complexities demand more than a single nation’s responsibility. Protecting space requires a collective effort from all spacefaring nations.

The United States has called for allies to share the burden of protecting space.

Unfortunately, recent trends indicate a troubling slowdown in international contributions:

• The European Space Agency recently announced decreased budgets from key member states, including the UK, Italy, and Germany.
• Five Eyes nations have reduced space program budgets, and several allied Space Domain Awareness (SDA) programs have been delayed or canceled.
• Uncertainty surrounding this U.S. administration’s space spending and shifting of historic relationships creates further instability in global efforts to meet these challenges.

The cumulative effect of these setbacks is a diminished capacity to address the mounting threats in space—a situation that jeopardizes us all.

A Path Forward: Unity Through Action

While numerous organizations, committees, and working groups are dedicated to addressing these risks, their outputs have been insufficient on a global scale; timelines are not keeping pace with the escalating threats. Voluntary norms and standards alone cannot meet the urgency of the situation.

History has taught us that challenges of this magnitude can only be met through decisive action, innovation, and cooperation. The time for half-measures has passed. The international community must take a unified approach to secure the space domain with urgency and resolve.

We propose the following immediate action:

Communications: Space is already a warfighting domain, but the public and political narrative remains inadequate. We must use data-driven analysis, confront misinformation, call out bad actors, and communicate – loudly, boldly, and clearly - why space security matters to life on Earth. Too many critical programs are being derailed under the false assumption that space investment equals vanity projects or tourism. We must revert this narrative.

Policy: Establish a Space Security Accord that recognizes space assets—including satellites, ground stations, and launch facilities—as critical national security infrastructure. This accord would establish protocols for their protection and outline shared responsibilities among nations. Like the Artemis Accords, which are oriented around civil space, a security-focused space accord would align nations around a set of shared principles that enhance security and stability for all.

Technology: Accelerate the development of key technologies to secure space, including:

• A global space traffic management system powered by advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, and distributed sensor networks, to help us distinguish between routine and suspicious activity.
• Anti-jamming and anti-spoofing systems to protect communications.
• Robust debris mitigation and removal technologies to reduce risk of collisions.
• Resilient satellite systems capable of operating in contested environments, to maintain deterrence and deny advantage to adversaries.

Investment: Governments must commit to funding space operations and security at levels commensurate with its national security importance. This will not only enhance national defense but also signal to private investors the urgent need for innovation in this field.

Securing Our Future

The defense of the space domain is not a luxury; it is a necessity. By working together to develop advanced technologies, establish clear policies, and allocate the necessary resources, we can ensure the safety and security of space for future generations.

This effort is about more than defense—it is about preserving the opportunities and benefits that space provides for all humanity. Investing in space security will drive innovation, create jobs, and inspire a new generation of leaders, strengthening our economies and bolstering international stability.

The time to act is now. Collectively, we need to embrace this challenge with the unity, determination, and vision that have defined great achievements throughout history. Together, we can ensure that space remains a domain of peace, progress, and prosperity.

We urge policymakers, defense leaders, innovators, and citizens to join this call. Amplify the message. Fund the mission. Protect our shared future in space.

Respectfully,

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