Washington, D.C. — U.S. military and civilian defense leaders joined counterparts from all ten nations in the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative at the new French Space Command Headquarters this week, emphasizing the coalition’s growing importance for deterrence, interoperability, and space warfighting readiness.
The initiative unites Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States in a shared effort to protect national interests and strengthen collective security in orbit.
Led by Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force; Gen. Stephen Whiting, Commander of U.S. Space Command and of Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender; and Robert Brose, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Space and Missile Defense, the U.S. delegation underscored America’s commitment to defending its interests “in and through space.”
“Our opponents are moving at jaw-dropping speed, and we must match that pace with integrated coalition capabilities that deter aggression and defend our interests,” Gen. Whiting said.
In alignment with guidance from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, U.S. officials urged CSpO partners to focus on practical integration, improved policy alignment, and sustained operational cooperation. Saltzman stressed that coalition strength depends on technical and strategic unity:
“We are building a coalition capable of addressing the challenges of a contested space environment. To be effective, we must collaborate on our architectures, integrate our training, exercises, and operations, and build a common understanding of the threats we face.”
The delegation also highlighted risks to U.S. and partner interests, including threats to commercial space access and the potential for destabilizing debris or weapons in orbit. Brose emphasized that national defense now extends beyond Earth’s surface:
“Just as our military defends our freedom, rights, and interests on earth, the military of the United States of America will protect and defend our freedom, rights, and interests in space.”
All ten nations reaffirmed their commitment to responsible space operations and to challenging states that act irresponsibly. As CSpO continues to evolve, members emphasized ensuring their forces are ready to deter conflict, defeat adversaries if necessary, and prevail in a rapidly contested domain.
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