«Militarization of Space as a Threat to International Security»
Students Name: Pryhoda Yuliia Ihorivna
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: International Relations
Institute: Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences
Mode of Study: part
Academic Year: 2023-2024 н.р.
Language of Defence: ukrainian
Abstract: One of the global threats to peace and security today is the active militarization of space, which in the future can be used for attacks on ground objects, military espionage, and the destruction of space objects. Modern technologies have made it possible to increase espionage of military targets on the ground, as demonstrated by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The use of satellites for national security is important, and their potential destruction or hacking could be a collapse for the functioning of states, the satellite Internet, etc. The geopolitical confrontation between the world’s leading powers has turned into a space race, which may later develop into a confrontation of military powers in space. Object of the study is the militarization of space as a threat to peace and security of the world. Scope of the study is international legislation on limiting the deployment of weapons in outer space, geopolitical confrontation between the world’s states in outer space, problems and prospects for resolving the militarization of outer space, and the main forms of manifestation of the militarization of outer space. Goal of the study is to investigate the impact of space militarization on global security. The master’s thesis examines the militarization of space as a global threat to peace and security today. The militarization of space is understood as the use and deployment of military means and technologies in outer space. A somewhat different concept is the weaponization of space, which means the deployment of weapons (launch vehicles) in space for offensive and preventive operations. Another important concept is “space security”, which means ensuring the peaceful use of space without the use of weapons. The article characterizes the international legal legislation governing the issue of space militarization. The issue of limiting the militarization of space is regulated by a number of UN resolutions that call only for the peaceful use of this area [4]. The militarization of space is rapid and poses significant threats to current and future international security. Among the main threats are cyberattacks on space objects, development of space weapons, use of non-military satellites for military purposes, build-up of weapons that can be used in space, espionage, growth of space debris, militarization of space by such states as China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and the potential for growth of space terrorism [1]. The author examines the geopolitical confrontation of the world’s states over the space sphere. Today, the world’s states are actively developing space technologies related to the military sphere. Some countries are developing missile and laser technologies that can be used as a weapon in the field of space [2]. The leading countries militarizing and weaponizing space are the United States, Russia, and China. International mechanisms for preventing the militarization of the space sphere are highlighted. The international response to the militarization of space includes diplomatic negotiations, the development of legal treaties, joint space projects and efforts to strengthen existing international laws, the involvement of international governmental and non-governmental organizations, the development of standards for space technologies, and negotiations on the prohibition of the use of weapons in space [3]. The problems and prospects for strengthening international cooperation to prevent the militarization of the space sphere are identified. In order to counter the challenges and threats posed by the militarization of space, the international community actively uses such mechanisms as the involvement of international governmental and non-governmental organizations, the involvement of superpowers, the adoption of UN Security Council resolutions, international negotiations and diplomacy. Keywords – militarization of space, space arms race, “Space Club”, veaponization of space, international security. References. 1. Challenges to Security in Space. Defense Intelligence Agency (2022). Available from: https://www.dia.mil/Portals/110/Documents/News/Military_Power_Publicatio ns/Challenges_Security_Space_2022.pdf 2. Department of Defense Releases Space Policy Review and Strategy on Protection of Satellites. U.S. Department of Defense (2023). Available from: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3526283/department- of-defense-releases-space-policy-review-and-strategy-on-protection-o/ 3. Preventing the Militarization of Outer Space. Old Dominion (2023). Available from: https://ww1.odu.edu/content/dam/odu/offices/mun/docs/1st- militarization-of-outer-space.pdf 4. The General Assembly. Space Treaty, article III. UNOOSA. Available from: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/outerspacetreaty.ht ml.