European Union Particular Envoy for Area Marjolijn van Deelen. Picture: eeas.europa.eu
India could be a very energetic participant in growing a global framework for accountable behaviour in area, stated Marjolijn van Deelen, European Union Particular Envoy for Area, whereas flagging particles from Anti-Satellite tv for pc (ASAT) weapon testing and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) that threaten satellites as main issues.
As India and EU look to deepen strategic cooperation, they’re additionally seeking to maintain a “area dialogue” as a primary step for collaboration within the area sector.
“I believe it could be necessary to collectively have a look at how we’d need to regulate, in a method, these RPOs… to have worldwide agreements on what’s okay and what’s not okay. And for that, we’re establishing this framework for norms, guidelines and rules of accountable behaviour and India and the EU may cooperate on setting out how we expect they need to be regulated in a method that doesn’t pose a menace to us,” Ms. Deelen stated, whereas chatting with The Hindu. “RPOs in themselves aren’t essentially an issue. You don’t need to an answer that additionally kills all of the programmes and the civilian advantages we will have from them.”
Rendezvous and proximity operations, or RPOs, check with a spacecraft deliberately manoeuvring to dock or working shut to a different area object.
Requested if India’s ASAT take a look at was a matter of concern, the envoy stated, “The creation of particles by ASAT is one thing that ought to concern all states and we’ve spoken about that and that’s why the EU has supported within the UN context a ban on harmful ASAT testing. The phrase ‘harmful’ is vital right here.”
To a follow-up query on whether or not there had been a dialog with regard to India’s ASAT programme, she replied there haven’t been any discussions but and her conversations right here might be “about how we cooperate”.
In March 2019, India introduced the profitable demonstration of ASAT functionality, after destroying a live-orbiting satellite tv for pc within the Low Earth Orbit of round 300 km with a brand new three-stage interceptor missile in a “hit to kill” mode.
Talking of the highest issues, the envoy, whose go to adopted the historic go to of EU Commissioners led by President Ursula von der Leyen, famous that a number of international locations had examined ASAT weapons. “However we additionally see cyber jamming and spoofing in area, that are threats to delivering companies to our residents. We additionally see RPOs, which principally includes having a satellite tv for pc get very near your satellite tv for pc, and if that’s with out notification and if that’s completed by an actor with whom we don’t have pleasant relations, and particularly if our satellite tv for pc is a delicate one… that’s one thing we have to speak about. So these are the threats that we see, perhaps the important thing ones on the safety facet.”
There are additionally particles circulating in area that makes it very troublesome for operators to function their satellites safely and naturally any accidents may doubtlessly occur in an unintended method, she noticed.
The envoy’s go to to India final week coincided with the International Expertise Summit organised by Carnegie India in coordination with the Ministry of Exterior Affairs, the place she was a speaker. She stated the meet was additionally a chance to work together with numerous stakeholders.
On the proposed area dialogue, she stated there was a necessity for the regulation of the area sector itself in order that either side can see the place there are discrepancies or gaps that should be addressed, or if something that may very well be completed to assist create a vibrant surroundings for companies to function. “I’m actually hoping that we’ll deepen our engagement and arrange an area safety dialogue in order that we will sit down with all of the actors on both sides and go in depth on all these subjects,” Ms. Deelen said.
The EU is about to usher in a Area Act within the subsequent few months, which the envoy termed could be very a lot an instrument designed for European competitiveness. Whereas reiterating that it doesn’t regulate third events, she stated the Act tries to make sure EU corporations cooperate extra carefully in order that the bloc doesn’t “get 27 particular person area programmes, however try this extra collectively”. “…But in addition that they respect sure security measures and sustainability measures, as a result of we’d need our business to uphold these rules. In order that’s what the what the Act when it comes out is designed to do,” she added.
Revealed – April 20, 2025 09:01 pm IST
