INDO-US DEFENCE SPACE COOPERATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL SECURITY

International defence space cooperation has been a hallmark of the global space age. India has embraced a multifaceted defence space partnership with the US in an era of renewed great power competition. This partnership is underpinned by the joint strategic objective of countering China’s rising space prowess. Foundational defence agreements like BECA and space security dialogues are central to the Indo-US strategic space partnership as they have redefined the contours of bilateral defence ties by prioritising defence space cooperation. Additionally, mini-lateral forums such as the QUAD and the private space sectors of both states have played a key role in strengthening the Indo-US defence space cooperation at multiple fronts.
The paper evaluates the regional security implications of Indo-US defence space cooperation by examining its dual-use nature in both the civil and military spheres. In particular, it analyses how the strengthening of Indo-US defence space cooperation since 2018 has enhanced India‟s space-based ISR capabilities. Consequently, this has heightened Pakistan‟s threat matrix by emboldening India‟s aggressive posturing. The paper proposes recommendations for Pakistan to enhance defence space cooperation with China and develop non-kinetic counterspace capabilities to stabilise the regional strategic equilibrium. The conclusions drawn in this study underscore the interplay between astropolitics and its far-reaching security implications, offering a prescient insight into the evolving nature of international strategic space partnerships.