Executive summary
- The new United States (US) Space Force doctrine signals a fundamental conceptual shift from defence to offence in military space affairs. It recognises space as a warfighting domain, positioning the Space Force as a combat service and space control as a primary objective.
- The decision of the administration of Donald Trump, President of the US, to pursue space-to-Earth strike weapons as a matter of policy, through the Golden Dome, will be transformational for the evolution of warfare.
- The United Kingdom (UK) should adjust its own doctrine and posture to remain in step with the US, and should contribute to elements of the Golden Dome. It should also focus more on counterspace and strategic space warfare systems.
About the author
Gabriel Elefteriu FRAeS is a Deputy Director at the Council on Geostrategy, where his research focuses on defence and space policy. Previously, he was Director of Research and Strategy and a member of the Senior Management Team at Policy Exchange, where he also founded and directed the first dedicated Space Policy Research Unit in the United Kingdom. Gabriel is also an Associate of King’s College London, an elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a founding partner at AstroAnalytica, a space consultancy.
Disclaimer
This publication should not be considered in any way to constitute advice. It is for knowledge and educational purposes only. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council on Geostrategy or the views of its Advisory Council.
Image credit: RAF Fylingdales Radar, 2012, Cherubino, CC 3.0
No. 2025/12 | ISBN: 978-1-917893-03-9