NZ's Space Partnerships Raise Concerns Over Strategic Stability
New Zealand is rapidly developing its capabilities in the aerospace sector, which is estimated to be worth NZ$2.5 billion to the national economy.
The country has agreed to spend nearly $24 million on a military satellite led by the US Department of War for the Wideband Global SATCOM constellation and has renewed participation in Operation Olympic Defender, a US-led military partnership aimed at making space safe and secure.
However, this involvement raises concerns about the increasing links between civilian and military aerospace activities and the implications for strategic stability in space.
The dual-use nature of satellite technology complicates this further, as satellites can serve both civilian and military purposes with potential benefits and harms.