Overview

• NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has warned that Russia may be exploring the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, a move that could significantly enhance its military capabilities.
• Such weapons could destroy hundreds of satellites, disrupting global communications, defense systems, and essential services like banking and weather forecasting.
• The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in space but does not fully address modern military advancements or satellite-targeting technologies.
• In response to these emerging threats, NATO is enhancing intelligence sharing, establishing national space command centers, and developing smaller, more maneuverable satellites for better protection.
• The warning comes as space becomes an increasingly contested domain, with growing competition and security challenges involving both Russia and other global powers like China.