COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado. A contingent of senior officials and Space leads from NATO, led by Allied Command Transformation, recently participated in the 39th Space Symposium, the preeminent international annual Space conference organized by the Space Foundation. The Symposium, known for uniting the global Space community, attracted more than 10,000 attendees from over 40 countries, representing the full spectrum of Space endeavours – military, civil, and commercial.
Allied Command Transformation sent a robust delegation, including Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Philippe Lavigne and Vice Admiral Jeff Hughes, Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development. Other officials included Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, Deputy Commander of NATO Allied Air Command, and Mrs. Sarah Tarry, Director, Defence Policy and Capabilities at the International Staff at NATO Headquarters. There were additional representatives from NATO Headquarters, NATO Allied Air Command, NATO Communications and Information Agency, and the newly established NATO Space Centre of Excellence. This comprehensive presence demonstrated NATO’s growing focus on Space and its commitment for international collaboration in this critical domain.
Beyond showcasing its intent, NATO actively participated in the symposium. NATO participants staffed a dedicated booth within the exhibit halls of the event, facilitating dialogue with industry leaders and fostering collaboration opportunities. Furthermore, NATO members actively engaged in key speaker panels and bilateral meetings with key leaders from nations and commercial companies.
A highlight of NATO’s presence was General Lavigne’s keynote address titled “NATO’s Strategic Warfare.” He emphasized NATO’s core strength – interoperability – and stressed the widening capability gap in Space between member nations. He acknowledged the private sector’s growing prominence and called for its integration as a “new nation” to maintain a collective space edge. “Space, once a distant frontier, now sits at the heart of modern military operations,” General Lavigne declared, “whoever controls this domain controls the highest ground and the flow of information, and therefore holds the advantage.”
General Lavigne elaborated on NATO’s strategic approach to Space, outlining its focus on increasing awareness of Space as a domain, coordination, and operational support. He emphasized the importance of increasing our “Space IQ” – the ability to navigate the complex legal and strategic landscape of Space – and reinforced the need for more responsible behaviour to ensure a safe and secure environment for all Space users. General Lavigne reiterated NATO’s commitment of deterrence in space, highlighting the need to demonstrate capability and a credible range of responses.
By actively participating in the 39th US Space Symposium, NATO sent a clear message of its mission, intent and commitment to this fast growing Domain. Space is rapidly with critical implications for modern warfare. Recognizing this, NATO is actively adapting, building a robust Space program, and fostering international cooperation. As General Lavigne stated, this is a “race we cannot afford to lose,” and collaboration is key to achieving success – we need to “Partner to win.”
