The Universal Need for Space Expertise: A Global Strategic Imperative
Nations Worldwide Position for Leadership in the $1.8 Trillion Space Economy
As the space economy approaches a projected $1.8 trillion valuation by 2035, nations across every continent are accelerating efforts to develop indigenous space capabilities. Motivations differ by region, from national security imperatives in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, to economic diversification in the Middle East, to humanitarian priorities in the Global South, yet one challenge is universal: the shortage of specialized space expertise.
"Whether examining developments in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, or across Africa and South America, there is widespread recognition that nations must develop indigenous space capabilities," notes Brad Head, Managing Director of International Partnerships at Elara Nova. "However, most countries lack the expertise to make this transition. Like any emerging technology sector, they face the challenge of building from zero to operational capability, then scaling sustainably."
Indo-Pacific: Addressing the Pacing Challenge
The Indo-Pacific remains the primary theater of space-based strategic competition, where China's rapid military space development poses the most pressing operational challenge to U.S. and allied systems. This pacing threat demands immediate, coordinated responses from regional partners.
Australia and New Zealand represent the most advanced partnership model in the region. Combining strategic geography, robust commercial space sectors, and proven willingness to provide access and basing rights, they are well-positioned as operational contributors in contested environments.
Japan and South Korea face more immediate operational requirements. With forward-positioned U.S. Space Force headquarters in both countries, collaboration extends to space situational awareness, precision navigation and timing, and missile warning and tracking. Both nations also seek to expand sovereign space industries, creating opportunities for technology partnerships that reinforce regional resilience.
Europe: Advanced Force-Providing Partners
Europe represents the foundation of allied space cooperation, where NATO's most capable partners are building sophisticated space forces that will operate alongside U.S. capabilities. NATO's 2019 declaration of space as an operational domain created new requirements for coordinated capability development, and the Hague Summit's commercial space strategy and increased defense investment pledges, signal clear intent.
European allies are uniquely positioned to act as force-providers, supported by advanced industrial bases, established procurement systems, and experience deploying high-end capabilities in coalition environments. Complementarity between NATO's defense-driven priorities and the European Union's civil and commercial space programs creates a dual-track foundation for capability growth. Russia's annexation of Crimea, destructive anti-satellite testing and invasion of Ukraine have further underscored the urgency of collective defense measures.
Middle East: Diversification and Regional Security
The Middle East presents a dual dynamic: economic diversification initiatives that drive ambitious space investments and shared security concerns, particularly from Iranian missile threats, that demand operationally relevant capabilities.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are investing heavily in space as part of broader economic transformation agendas. While often initiated as symbols of national ambition, these programs can be guided toward architectures that also strengthen regional security. Capability assessments focused on missile warning, tracking, and situational awareness can underpin cooperative space-based early warning systems and data-sharing arrangements.
Israel, already a regional leader in satellite programs, missile defense and intelligence-gathering, brings advanced capabilities that can be integrated into broader regional frameworks. Collaboration in next-generation satellites and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, coupled with expanded data-sharing protocols, can enhance collective resilience against missile and cyber threats.
Central Asian states including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan represent another dimension of this theater. Seeking alternatives to Russian partnerships, these countries offer opportunities for democratic cooperation that counter authoritarian influence while building indigenous expertise.
Global South: Development Priorities in a Competitive Environment
For much of the Global South, space is viewed primarily through the lens of humanitarian assistance, disaster response, climate adaptation and connectivity rather than traditional security. These priorities create meaningful opportunities for democratic partnerships that provide both development benefits and strategic resilience.
African nations, in particular, emphasize environmental monitoring, agricultural optimization and disaster management. The newly established African Space Agency provides an institutional framework for cooperative capability development. Satellite communications also serve as a lifeline for education, healthcare and economic participation in regions historically marginalized from global connectivity.
From a strategic perspective, these partnerships also serve allied security interests.
"We have space domain awareness coverage gaps in the Southern Hemisphere," Head notes. "Nations in these regions offer optimal geographic positions for monitoring emerging threats, while meeting their own development needs. Success in this competition will depend on demonstrating that democratic partnerships deliver more effective, transparent and mutually beneficial outcomes than authoritarian alternatives.”
The Spectrum of Space Cooperation
Across all regions, international space engagement follows what Head describes as a "spectrum of cooperation," a progressive framework that accommodates varying levels of maturity:
Foundational Level: Space Situational Awareness sharing agreements with U.S. Space Command promote responsible space operations through bilateral partnerships.
Operational Level: Global Sentinel initiatives strengthen international partnerships through enhanced collaborative frameworks.
Training Level: Schriever Wargames enable joint exploration of emerging space challenges and cross-domain integration.
Strategic Level: The Combined Space Operations Initiative addresses space sustainability while developing counterspace capabilities.
Operational Integration: Operation Olympic Defender represents the highest cooperation level, integrating multinational spacepower for deterrence and defense.
This spectrum provides partners with flexible entry points while creating clear pathways for deeper engagement as capabilities, trust, and strategic requirements evolve. The framework recognizes that effective space cooperation requires matching partnership levels to national capabilities and strategic priorities rather than imposing uniform approaches across diverse regional contexts.
Elara Nova's Strategic Partnership Approach
As space becomes central to both national security and economic development, the need for specialized expertise presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Elara Nova addresses this through its Capabilities, Training, and Administration (CTA) framework, which is a methodology pioneered in the establishment of the U.S. Space Force and refined through successful international partnerships.
Capabilities Development begins with vendor-agnostic requirements analysis, ensuring optimal system architectures that balance sovereign control with commercial innovation.
Training Excellence develops indigenous expertise through a three-phase pipeline of education, mission-specific preparation, and operational integration, employing train-the-trainer models for sustainability.
Administration Framework establishes governance structures, policy processes, and resource management systems to ensure long-term institutional resilience.
"Elara Nova's leadership helped establish both U.S. Space Force and Space Command while supporting commercial space sector growth," Head explains. "Our CTA framework enables nations to navigate complex space challenges through expert partnership, building the capabilities, expertise, and institutional foundations necessary for sustained space leadership rather than external dependence."
In an era defined by great power competition and global economic transformation, success will depend on partnerships that combine technical expertise with institutional knowledge. Elara Nova stands ready to help nations translate ambition into capability, ensuring sovereign resilience while contributing to collective security and stability.
Elara Nova is a global consultancy and professional services firm focused on helping businesses and government agencies maximize the strategic advantages of the space and aeronautics domain. Learn more at https://elaranova.com/.