The German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday that he was time for his country to consider putting “offensive capacities” in space after revealing that the Russian spaceships follow two communication satellites used by the German army.
Speaking during the event of the German industry space congress in Berlin, Pistorius said that the country had to increase its investment in space security to counter the threats of Russia and China, which, according to him, has quickly expanded their capacity for space war.
“They can blur, blind, manipulate or destroy kinetically satellites,” said Pistorius. “There are no borders or continents in space. Russia and China are our direct neighbors there.”
High land control is often a military imperative, said Pistorius, adding: “Russia and China already occupy strategic hills and important mountains in space – a threat that we can no longer ignore.”
“Satellite networks are now the Achille heel of modern societies,” said Pistorius. “Anyone who attacks the attacks can paralyze with whole countries. We know that the conflicts of the future will no longer be confined to the earth. They will also be openly fought in orbit.”
Germany on the offense
Pistorius said that Germany was “ready to assume more responsibilities” for defense and deterrent in space, with plans to invest 35 billion euros (40.8 billion dollars) in space security until 2030.
It is also time for Germany to “discuss offensive capacities” in space, said Pistorius. It is a reversal of the country’s long-standing policy against anti-satellite weapons.
Germany has historically relied on the United States and other European countries for many critical spatial capacities, such as missile warning, information collection and launch services. The German army has rather focused on the development of its own radar surveillance satellites as part of a data sharing agreement with Allies.
Christian Mölling, the former research director of the German Council for Foreign Relations, wrote in 2022 that German politicians were content with this strategy.
