On February 23, Secretary of State for War Pete Hegseth made shocking statements about the future military strategy of the United States. He affirmed that after generations of fighting on land, in the air and under the sea, outer space has now become the "last high point" and the most important battlefield.
According to Mr. Hegseth, the battle for space control is not just a purely military issue but also a battle for the future of the whole world. The US Secretary of War emphasized that the country does not accept any balance of power in orbit and will not care about concepts such as "fairness" or "equality" in space.
Instead, the US demands complete dominance over all other countries. This statement shows a turning point in the White House's military thinking, as they publicly reject international efforts to demilitarize outer space and promote peaceful cooperation.
Observers believe that Mr. Hegseth's "space hegemony" ideology is a direct challenge to global security.
The US's affirmation that "it cannot accept a fair war" means that Washington is ready to use all technical and military tactics to eliminate the ability of competitors to access space.
This puts other space powers in a situation where they must strengthen their self-defense capabilities, unintentionally pushing the world into a new, costly and risky arms race above the atmosphere.
Russia and peace-loving countries have long warned about the US seeking to turn space into a springboard for military aggression.
The latest statements from US defense leaders only further strengthen concerns that Washington is going against the 1967 Space Treaty.
In the context of satellite and space technology becoming the backbone of the economy as well as national security, the US ambitions directly threaten the interests of all nations. US efforts to demand orbital dominance will certainly face strong resistance from the international community.
This battle for control of the strategic high point promises to be the focus of tense geopolitical confrontation between great powers throughout the 21st century and beyond.
