Washington: US President Donald Trump has formally launched the US Space Command, that he said will ensure that America’s dominance in space is “never threatened,” amidst advances made by countries like Russia and China.
The command’s establishment comes as the US has grown increasingly co-ncerned about threats to its satellites from Russia and China.
“Those who wish to harm the US, to seek to challenge us on the ultimate high ground of space, it’s going to be a whole different ballgame,” he said on Thur-sday at a White House ceremony marking the command’s establishment.
Describing the establishment of the 11th Comb-atant Command as a landmark moment, Trump said it recognises the centrality of space to America’s national security and defence.
Gen. John W. Raymond will be the commander of the US Space Command, which has been established as the 11th Unified Combatant Command of the American armed forces.
The command will initially consist of just 287 personnel and its final location has yet to be determined. Its responsibilities will be transferred primarily from US Strategic Command, according to CNN.
“It’s a big deal. As the newest combatant command, SPACECOM will defend America’s vital interests in space — the next war-fighting domain,” Trump, also the Comma-nder-in-Chief of the US military, said.
“SpaceCom will ensure that America’s dominance in space is never threatened,” he said. “This is a landmark day, one that recognises the centrality of space to America’s security and defence,” he said.
The Trump administration has identified Russia and China as the countries who pose threat to the United States in space.
“Our adversaries are weaponising Earth's orbits with new technology targeting American satellites that are critical to both battlefield operations and our way of life at home.
“Our freedom to operate in space is also essential to detecting and destroying any missile launched against the United States,” he said.
“Just as we have recognised land, air, sea, and cyber as vital war-fighting domains, we will now treat space as an independent region overseen by a new unified geographic combatant command,” said the US president.
The Space Command, he said, will soon be followed by establishment of the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces.
The launch was attended among others by Vice President Mike Pence and Defence Secretary Mark Esper.
