Trump's Space Initiative Could Ignite Tensions, Experts Meet In Geneva For Peace Treaty

After U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his thoughts on space as a "war-fighting domain," experts from 25 countries decided to convene and set the foundations for a space treaty.

Tensions among countries like the United States, China and Russia, have been around for many years. However, the new arms race is threatening to add tensions across the globe as countries continue to invest in space exploration and technologies that can either help them understand life beyond or gain military dominance.

Donald Trump made it clear that he is beefing up the space capabilities of the U.S. by ordering the Pentagon to create a Space Force branch as part of the Air Force. The establishment of the new branch comes 72 years after the last one was set up.

“I think we are reaching a breaking point … and this may be the last opportunity to step back from the brink and maintain outer space as a direct combat-free zone,” Jessica West, project manager of the 2018 Space Security Index report, said.

Experts from 25 countries including those from the U.S., Russia and China met on March 18 for a 10-day meeting in Geneva. Their goal is to set the terms for a treaty that will maintain peace in space. The closed-door discussion in Geneva also include a UN panel called the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE). The space CGE, chaired by Brazilian ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota to the UN Conference on Disarmament, is expected to issue a report only after the parties agree on the issues that will be discussed.

“I hope I am not just indulging in wishful thinking here but I do see some positive initiatives against this rather dark background,” Paul Meyer, Canada’s former disarmament ambassador and an expert on space security at The Simons Foundation in Vancouver, said.

Trump previously boasted about the ever-expanding defense budgets. He also made it clear that defending space will protect the interests of his country. According to him, America's adversaries are working hard to develop technology and train forces to undermine the country's security in space.

However, China called America’s space defense initiative as "reckless" and "totally groundless." Nonetheless, President Xi Jinping said in 2015 that space exploration is crucial for the growth of a country's military. This has also opened the doors for the development of the Strategic Support Force (SSF) in the People’s Liberation Army.