Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe by Niall Ferguson review
(Evening Standard) – From plagues and volcanic eruptions to the current Covid pandemic, mankind has always been faced with catastrophes.
Thought Leader: Niall Ferguson
Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Europe’s Orbital Moment
Thought Leader: Anders Fogh Rasmussen
December 17, 2025
Source: Euractiv
Written by: Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Josef Aschbacher
Europe has arrived at an orbital crossroads that will determine our future in space. But European leaders cannot hesitate to go big on defence in, and from, space
Space has become a geopolitical frontline for Europe. Our adversaries are seeking to jam, dazzle, and destroy our satellites, and at a pivotal moment for European security, our ability to act independently in space is under threat. We must now act decisively.
This begins with ensuring that we treat space as the security domain that it is. Indeed, space is the foundation of modern defence readiness, enabling critical surveillance, connectivity, and security capabilities. In the United States, defence accounts for roughly 60 per cent of all space spending. Yet while Europe has finally woken up to the need for greater defence spending, too often European leaders have hesitated to go big on defence in and from space.
Fortunately, that mindset is beginning to change. Space technology is inherently dual-use, enabling both civilian and military capabilities. Europe is now embracing that reality more openly. The European Resilience from Space (ERS) initiative — designed to strengthen dual-use space capabilities — was endorsed with significant financial commitments during the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ministerial Council last month, where member states committed a record €22.3 billion to ESA programmes overall.
Likewise, the explicit recognition that ESA can develop space technologies and systems including for security and defence on behalf of its Member States and the European Union marks a significant development and is a key milestone towards enhancing
Europe’s collective resilience. But we must still go further. SpaceX is essential to the US defence and intelligence communities, yet we do not have any equivalent answer. While programs like the European Union’s IRIS² satellite constellation will provide Europe with secure communications and a strong foothold in Low Earth Orbit, there is still work to do.
Europe must back our own industry with the ambition and funding necessary to drive the growth of a sector that is essential to our collective security – and which can ensure we have the capabilities required to compete with both our friends and our adversaries.
Access to space remains mission-critical to achieving this.
As a priority, Europe must scale up its launch capacity and accelerate the development of reusable launch technologies. Ariane 6 and Vega-C are fundamental to the cause, but we need more launch diversity to support Europe’s strategic needs. At the recent ESA Ministerial Council, Member States also demonstrated a renewed political commitment to this goal by pledging more than twice what was requested for ESA’sEuropean Launcher Challenge – an initiative designed to boost competition and broaden Europe’s launcher options.
But access to space also extends beyond being able to simply reach it.
By the end of the decade, there could be more than 100,000 active satellites in space, up from just 2,000 in 2018. This increase is being driven primarily by giga constellations launched by a small handful of US and Chinese companies. As these satellites increase the amount of dangerous space debris and lay claim to a finite amount of radio spectrum – the invisible signal highway connecting satellites to Earth – the overcrowding of Low Earth Orbit poses a serious risk to Europe’s ability to act independently in space.
Here, the European Commission’s proposal for a European Space Act has the potential to play a pivotal role in improving the governance of Earth’s orbits at a European level and in driving positive change globally. Europe should lead the way, working with like-minded countries and regional blocks to ensure our orbits remain accessible to all.
ESA stands ready to support the European Union and its Member States’ effort on the refinement of the text and requirements to build a single and effective approach in the safety, resilience and sustainability pillars of European industry.
Europe has arrived at an orbital crossroads that will determine our future in space. While progress had undoubtedly been made – at ESA’s recent ministerial and at the EU level with initiatives like Defence Readiness 2030 – we must continue to push further.
The allocation to space activities in the EU’s coming Multiannual Financial Framework will be a critical signal of Europe’s long-term ambitions. Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has reminded Europe that we can never take our security for granted — and that our security depends on our capability to build-up capacity quickly.
With significant and predictable funding, backed by a coordinated European approach that breaks down silos and delivers the collective capabilities that our security demands, we can ensure that Europe can not only survive, but thrive in a geopolitical arena that has become essential to our defence, competitiveness, and resilience.
A great space leader – a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away – said “Do, or do not. There is no try.” Europe is at a critical juncture – and may we rise to the moment together.
A joint Opinion Editorial by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, founder of Rasmussen Global and former Secretary General of NATO.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is a globally respected voice on leadership, security, and international cooperation. As former NATO Secretary General and Prime Minister of Denmark, he brings unmatched insight into geopolitics, transatlantic relations, and global markets. Today, as Founding Chairman of Rasmussen Global, he advises executives, boards, and world leaders—including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—on navigating complex global challenges. His experience and foresight make him a powerful speaker for organizations seeking clarity and strategy in uncertain times. To bring him to your next event, contact WWSG today.
Relevant posts
Time to end secret data laboratories—starting with the CDC
The American people are waking up to the fact that too many public health leaders have not always been straight with them. Despite housing treasure…
Thought Leader: Marty Makary
David Frum: How Harris Roped a Dope
This piece is by WWSG exclusive thought leader, David Frum. Vice President Kamala Harris walked onto the ABC News debate stage with a mission: trigger…
Thought Leader: David Frum
More with this speaker
Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Putin and Ukraine
Thought Leader: Anders Fogh Rasmussen
