French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday warned that modern conflicts are already being fought in space, and the next wars are likely to begin there, citing threats from Russia and unveiling plans for a multi-billion euro increase in military space spending.
Speaking in Toulouse, France’s space and aviation hub and home to the country’s new space military command center, Macron said: “Space is no longer a sanctuary; it has become a battlefield. The war of today is already being fought in space, and the war of tomorrow will begin in space.”
He accused Russia of conducting espionage in space following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including monitoring French satellites, jamming GPS signals, and launching cyberattacks on space infrastructure. Macron also highlighted what he described as “particularly shocking Russian threats of nuclear weapons in space, the effects of which would be disastrous for the whole world.”
Without providing further specifics, Macron announced an additional €4.2 billion ($4.9 billion) in funding for France’s military space activities through 2030.
Addressing the fragile state of the European space sector, he emphasized the need to “encourage our European champions to be competitive on the global market,” noting the importance of developing next-generation reusable launchers with low-cost propulsion and high-thrust engines.
Macron also criticized reliance on private space companies, referring to U.S. billionaires Elon Musk of SpaceX and Jeff Bezos of Blue Origin, saying: “Depending on a major third-party power or any space magnate is out of the question. Let us be ready: this will be a condition for the success of military operations on land, in the air, and at sea.”
He added that France is accelerating advanced warning capabilities in cooperation with Germany and strengthening space surveillance through the Aurore radar system to reduce dependency on other nations.
“We are investing in means of action from the ground and space while respecting international law, but without any naivety,” Macron concluded.
