WASHINGTON — A new report by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) urges the Trump administration and Congress to adopt a comprehensive strategy to maintain U.S. leadership in space, including establishing diplomatic channels with China.
The report released Feb. 11, titled “Securing Space: A Plan for U.S. Action,” highlights mounting threats, including anti-satellite weapons, the proliferation of space debris, and growing competition from China. Authored by a CFR task force led by retired U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno and former U.S. Rep. Jane Harman, the report stresses the need for Washington to prioritize space policy at the highest levels of government.
“The United States must make space a top national priority and commit to revitalizing U.S. leadership in space,” the report states, warning that the country risks a “Sputnik moment” if it does not act decisively.
China has rapidly expanded its space capabilities in recent years. The CFR report acknowledges this progress and calls for pragmatic engagement with Beijing, recommending the establishment of a direct communication hotline to reduce the risk of miscalculation in orbit.
“The threat of miscalculation is real,” the report warns. “The United States, China, Russia, and other spacefaring countries need clear ways to communicate their intentions.”
This proposed hotline, modeled after Cold War-era mechanisms between the U.S. and Soviet Union, would help manage incidents such as close encounters between satellites or potential debris-causing events.
Managing congestion and risks in space
With thousands of satellites in orbit — and many more planned — the CFR report underscores the urgent need for clearer international norms and traffic management systems. Commercial space enterprises continue to drive technological innovation, but a lack of regulatory clarity threatens to slow progress.
The report calls on the U.S. to champion global standards for space traffic management by leveraging existing international organizations and forming new advisory bodies that include private-sector stakeholders. It also suggests that designating key space infrastructure as “critical infrastructure” could signal the administration’s commitment to securing space assets.
National security implications
As adversarial nations develop counterspace capabilities, the report recommends a two-pronged approach: strengthening deterrence through investments in resilient satellite networks and maintaining strategic dialogue with competitors to avoid escalation.
The CFR task force suggests that the president convene a high-level space summit early in the administration to reassess national space priorities and coordinate interagency efforts.
“This effort would emphasize the administration’s commitment to securing space for national defense and global stability,” the report states.
While the report acknowledges concerns from the private sector about potential overregulation, it argues that a well-defined “rules of the road” approach would ultimately foster innovation rather than stifle it.
“The United States is uniquely positioned at the intersection of commercial, scientific, and national security space activities,” the report concludes. “Failure to act now could cede leadership to competitors and undermine both economic opportunities and strategic stability.”
