Space has become increasingly important in recent years – for our daily lives and our economy, but above all for our security. Against this backdrop, the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Foreign Office are presenting the first national Space Safety and Security Strategy today.

The Strategy covers all areas relevant to our security, from spaceflight projects with international partners to the expansion of satellite networks and promoting responsible state behaviour in space. The objective is to become more capable of action also in space – together with our partners in the EU and NATO and with other partners around the world.

The Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Foreign Office, in cooperation with other ministries, in particular the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, have jointly developed the strategy and will now implement it swiftly. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul presented the Strategy jointly to the Cabinet today, 19 November.

“Space systems have become an integral part of our lives. We benefit from space-based services on a daily basis, for example in communications and navigation. Our companies and the Bundeswehr are also dependent on these services. Their failure or disruption would have serious consequences for our security and our everyday lives. We are already witnessing, for example, how Russia jams GPS signals in the Baltic Sea region on a regular basis. The Space Safety and Security Strategy sets out the framework for how we can better protect and defend ourselves in space and make ourselves more resilient with a whole-of-government approach. The Bundeswehr forms the backbone of the national space safety and security architecture,” said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

This primarily involves the protection of German space systems, such as satellites, and the infrastructure that they require. Another aspect of this is the capacity to conduct military space operations to fulfil our defence mission. “The Federal Ministry of Defence alone will invest around 35 billion euro in the space sector in the coming years,” said the Defence Minister.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul: “Space has long been the theatre of military conflicts and economic competition, as demonstrated not least by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

From communications to controlling cruise missiles and drones to exploiting strategically important raw materials, the race for supremacy in space is in full swing. This makes it all the more important for Germany to protect its interests also in space. We must therefore continue to expand our space safety and security architecture.

Germany stands ready to do its part in strengthening our security in NATO and the EU, including in space. Here, too, we are guided by the principles of international law, which we want to further develop also with regard to space. We are working together with our partners, including in the United Nations, to achieve this goal.”

The Space Safety and Security Strategy outlines the challenges and threats arising from the use of space. Based on this, three strategic action areas are defined, in which our work will be guided by robustness, resilience and cooperation:

I. Identify risks and threats, develop options for action;

II. Promote international cooperation and sustainable order in space;

III. Build deterrence, strengthen defence capabilities and resilience.

These action areas give rise to specific lines of action and tasks for the establishment of a whole-of-government space security architecture. A new departure is the fact that the areas and lines of action are directly underpinned by the Federal Government’s spending plans.

In line with the “integrated security” approach, the development of our national space safety and security architecture is being carried out in cooperation with all relevant ministries and with the involvement of all civilian and military stakeholders – because security concerns us all.

The unimpeded, safe, secure and sustainable use of space requires not only a whole-of-government approach, but also close international cooperation. Germany will forge ahead internationally together with its partners. Our space safety and security architecture will be a strong German pillar in NATO and for Europe, complementing existing NATO and EU programmes. We will expand our cooperation with our partners, for example in the use of launch capacities and within the framework of international space programmes such as Operation Olympic Defender and the Combined Space Operations Initiative.

An essential part of the Strategy is the commitment to the peaceful, sustainable and rules-based use of space in order to prevent an arms race. Together with its partners, the Federal Government is pursuing a behaviour-based approach. However, the development of an infrastructure capable of deterrence and defence is essential for the safe, secure and peaceful use of space.