NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s top military adviser, Gen. Dan Caine, has declared that American troops must prepare for combat not only in Earth's orbit but also around the moon. This statement marks a significant shift in military strategy as the U.S. revealed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space.
Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference outside Washington, Gen. Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized the need for the U.S. military to adapt in order to "fight, endure and win … from the seabed to cislunar space." This reflects an evolving understanding of warfare as the Space Force, established in 2019 under Trump’s administration, aims to prepare for potential conflicts in outer space.
Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, head of Space Force's Combat Forces Command, explained that the military's mission is to defend U.S. interests as humanity expands deeper into space. Gagnon noted that the announcement regarding U.S. military readiness in the cislunar region follows recent revelations from Air Force Secretary Troy Meink indicating that the U.S. has already fielded "on-orbit space control weapons."
These recent statements by military officials challenge existing international conventions that designated outer space for peaceful purposes, raising concerns about the potential for an arms race in space. While the U.S. and other nations demonstrated capabilities to intercept satellites from the ground, the push into space weaponry indicates a preparedness to expand combat into this frontier.
According to Gagnon, threats posed by potential adversaries, particularly from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), necessitate a reaction from the U.S. military. He mentioned that Chinese military space efforts were established in 2024, aimed at enhancing their capabilities to manage conflicts in space. China has criticized the U.S. plans, with foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reaffirming China's commitment to the peaceful use of outer space while opposing the militarization and weaponization of space.
The legality of deploying weapons in space and any plans to extend military operations to the moon remain ambiguous, particularly in light of international treaties like the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. This treaty, signed by both the U.S. and China, stipulates that celestial objects, including the moon, should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons in space.
Amidst rising tensions, particularly following reports that Russia has been developing space-based weapons, there have been moves within the United Nations to reinforce anti-militarization measures. Attempts to reach a resolution to prevent the deployment of nuclear arms in space were blocked by Russia, which presented a counter-resolution to ban all weapons in space, which ultimately failed.
In response to questions regarding adherence to the 1967 treaty, Gen. Gagnon stated that the Space Force would "execute safe and responsible space operations." However, details regarding the use of projectiles in space were not disclosed, and inquiries directed at the Pentagon did not receive an immediate response.
Looking ahead, Gagnon revealed plans to double the size of the Space Force over the next five years, aiming to increase its personnel to approximately 25,000, with a significant portion focused on combat readiness. He underscored that the military capabilities being developed are crucial for national defense and to create deterrence against adversaries.
