Governing Space Security: An Analysis of the Potential for a Binding Multilateral Treaty

The risk of conflict in outer space poses an unprecedented threat to global security and infrastructure, from disabling GPS networks to triggering catastrophic environmental consequences. Despite the exponential growth in space technology and geopolitical competition since the 1960s, no major binding multilateral treaty regulating military conduct in space has been enacted since the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST). This paper interrogates the potential for a new binding treaty through a three-part analysis: legal evaluation, historical comparison, and a proposal for future-focused wargaming. Our findings suggest that while the current environment lacks the cohesion needed for sweeping legal reform, specific triggers may catalyze binding agreements. This research aims to equip policymakers with both a conceptual framework and strategic foresight necessary to prevent a space-based crisis before it materializes.