According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on May 10, NATO has recently reached out to these four countries regarding their involvement in the StarLift initiative.
The StarLift plan aims to quickly launch replacement satellites using the launch facilities of partner nations in the event of issues with existing satellites or launch equipment, with a focus on restoring satellite networks. Both military and commercial satellites are expected to be included in this initiative.
NATO has reported that China and Russia are enhancing their military capabilities in space, particularly through reconnaissance satellites. As countries expand their networks of reconnaissance and communication satellites, concerns have grown over potential interference or destruction of satellites, especially following reports of Russian satellites tracking others.
In response to the potential for attacks in space, NATO initiated the StarLift plan in 2024, with participation from over ten member countries, including France, Germany, and Italy.
The Nikkei reported that the Japanese government has responded positively to NATO's proposal and is currently coordinating among relevant ministries. However, Japan will need a separate agreement to participate, and there are numerous logistical issues to address, including the transportation procedures for launch facilities and related equipment across borders.
South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, which received the proposal, are part of the four Indo-Pacific partners (IP4) that NATO has been seeking to strengthen cooperation with. NATO is expanding its connections with these partner countries not only in traditional land, sea, and air operations but also in new security domains such as space and cyberspace.
Japan's cooperation with NATO in space is also becoming more concrete. The Nikkei reported that Japan has confirmed its participation in NATO's "SpaceNet" initiative, which discusses how to utilize necessary security technologies with companies in the space industry. The Japanese government plans to compile a list of relevant companies to discuss cooperation with NATO.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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