Read more about the article Episode 7: The Role of Space in European Security and Defence
Episodes

Episode 7: The Role of Space in European Security and Defence

In this episode of StrategicALLY, hosts Doğa Sultan Önaçan and Manuel Dias are joined by Colonel Marcin Mazur from the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) to explore the evolving role of space in European security. We discuss space warfare, dual-use technologies, and the EU's path to strategic autonomy in space. Colonel Mazur shares valuable insights on the challenges Europe faces in protecting space assets and advancing space capabilities. Topics covered include the weaponization of orbital debris, the development of military space vehicle technology, and the EU's efforts in achieving autonomous space access. Tune in as we discuss how Europe is positioning itself to secure the future of its space domain. Podcast edited by Livia Perrulli.

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29 April 2025
Read more about the article Hope For a New Perspective on Ballistic Missile Non-Proliferation? An Analysis of International Humanitarian & Environmental Law and Political Science
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Hope For a New Perspective on Ballistic Missile Non-Proliferation? An Analysis of International Humanitarian & Environmental Law and Political Science

This paper explores the persistent dangers of ballistic missiles (BMs) despite international legal efforts to curb their proliferation and use. It analyses violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Environmental Law (IEL), using the 44-Day War between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a case study to illustrate the devastating impact of BMs on civilians and the environment. While acknowledging the challenges posed by realist perspectives in international relations, the paper adopts a constructivist approach, suggesting that a shift in state identities and interests could encourage greater commitment to disarmament efforts. In this regard, the EU Space Strategy is highlighted as a potential avenue for promoting norms that prioritise humanitarian and environmental concerns in the context of space security.

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14 April 2025
Read more about the article IRIS²: A New Frontier in The European Space Programme
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IRIS²: A New Frontier in The European Space Programme

On December 16th, the European Commission signed the concession contract for constructing the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²). This space initiative involves the creation of a multi-orbital constellation of 290 satellites, leveraging the comparative advantages of satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (European Commission, 2024a). This 12-year project embodies Europe’s strategic attempt to develop a viable alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink (Volpicelli & Palasciano, 2024).

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7 January 2025
Read more about the article Finabel’s Space Handbook
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Finabel’s Space Handbook

Against the backdrop of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War and Europe’s changing security environment, space has become ever more significant in the field of defence and security. Today, the spatial context has moved beyond the binary Soviet-American dynamic of one-upmanship experienced during the Cold War. Greater acknowledgement of the domain’s importance to modern society has led to a renewed look at space within military affairs in recent years, spurring the formal recognition of space as an operational domain by NATO allies in 2019 (Eagleson, 2023). This paper explores various strands of the strategic domain of space in the European context, involving analyses ranging from explorations of the sector’s legal dimensions to a further dive into the lessons learned from the Russo-Ukrainian War in the realm of space.

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27 August 2024
Read more about the article New and Old Issues in Space Security: from Space Debris Removal to Italy’s Call for Satellite Protection
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New and Old Issues in Space Security: from Space Debris Removal to Italy’s Call for Satellite Protection

Following the recognition by Italy of space as a domain for military operations, the country must increase the robustness and the protection of its satellites. This decision aligns with international and transnational organisations of which Italy is a member, such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The problem to be tackled is active attacks in space and the always present issue of space and orbital debris.

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20 May 2022