Space Warfare between Russia and the United States: Implications for European Union Security in 2023-2024

Abstract

 Space warfare has become a key domain in contemporary geopolitics and its relevance for global security, especially to the European Union (EU) is obvious. In this paper, we discuss Russian-U.S. space warfare in 2023-2024 and its possible threat implications for EU security. In a world where major powers are hardening space based, satellite and anti-satellite (ASAT) technologies are progressively "outfitting" the stratosphere to manipulate space and its strategic value; communication, navigation, surveillance capabilities that national security cannot live without. Growing tensions between Russia and U.S., fueled in part by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, threaten the space-based assets upon which EU relies. This paper discusses the relevance of space capabilities for strategic purposes; the consequences of militarization on Strategic autonomy in EU and thus why robust responses for counterspace threats are required. Drawing from historical examples, latest developments and theoretical frameworks the research explains what the implications of space warfare will be for EU security in the future.