The U.S. is committed to working with its allies to leverage space assets and capabilities to defend peace and security in Europe.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, deputy commander of U.S. European Command, wrote in an opinion piece on SpaceNews that services components such as the newly established US Space Forces Europe and Africa ensure agility for allied nations to counter “threats in any domain.”
Headquartered at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, USSPACEFOR-EURAF was activated in December under Eucom and U.S. Africa Command.
The Eucom deputy chief noted that U.S. allies and partners in Europe consider space a strategic domain. The European Union formulated its first space defense strategy in 2023; the Council of Ministers approved the new policy in November.
Basham also highlighted the work under the Combined Space Operations Initiative. The forum, which recently welcomed Italy and Norway as the latest European partners, is key for improving coordination among allies’ space centers and communication via shared secure satellite systems, the general said.
