NATO and the Changing Space Security Environment: Strategic Challenges from China and Russia

Space has become a strategically critical domain for both state and non-state actors, including NATO and the European Union, due to its impact on sectors such as communication, navigation, intelligence, agriculture, transport, science, and banking. NATO’s strategic concepts have evolved in response to this changing environment, culminating in the recognition of space as an operational domain and reflecting an evolutionary approach to emerging threats. This study analyzes NATO’s growing focus on space, the development of its related policy frameworks, and the space programs of China and Russia, whose activities pose significant challenges to NATO’s security posture. By examining these dynamics, the research highlights the strategic, operational, and policy implications of space competition for NATO in the 21st century.