As NATO continues to adapt to evolving security challenges, the alliance is placing increasing emphasis on the domains of space and cyber warfare.
In a recent briefing at the NATO Defence Ministers’ meeting, a senior NATO official highlighted the growing importance of these new areas of competition, which are becoming essential components of modern defence strategies.
The official explained that NATO’s focus is no longer limited to traditional military domains, such as land, sea, and air, but must now encompass the newer, rapidly evolving fields of cyber and space. “We need also to be able to compete in new domains and new areas of warfare. And of course, you all have in mind cyber, but also space, which is now an area of competition,” the official stated.
Space has increasingly become a contested domain, with NATO recognising its importance for both military and civilian operations. The reliance on satellites for communications, navigation, and intelligence gathering makes space an area of strategic interest, particularly as potential adversaries develop anti-satellite technologies.
By addressing space as a domain of competition, NATO is aiming to ensure its technological edge remains intact, safeguarding its ability to operate freely in this critical arena.
Similarly, the official underscored the importance of cyber warfare, which has become a key battleground for state and non-state actors alike. “It also includes information and the fight against the manipulation of information,” the official noted, referencing the role of cyber attacks and information warfare in undermining national security.
