NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg | Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images Stoltenberg: NATO won’t put weapons in space

NATO will “remain defensive” in space as foreign ministers prepare to add it to the list of domains covered by the military alliance, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday.

Speaking in Brussels, Stoltenberg cautioned the alliance “has no intention to put weapons in space” but said: “We need to ensure our missions and operations have the right support.”

He confirmed that ministers will on Wednesday designate space as NATO’s fifth domain alongside air, land, sea and cyber.

The move comes amid increasing attention on the role of space in international security. Stoltenberg described it as necessary recognition of the opportunities and threats of space-based military assets, including satellites and other imaging and surveillance technology.

Stoltenberg said around half of the estimated 2,000 satellites orbiting the Earth are owned by NATO countries. “So recognizing space as an operational domain will be a clear sign that we continue to strengthen our deterrence and defence in all areas,” he said.

NATO foreign ministers meet Wednesday ahead of a meeting of heads of government in London starting December 3.

The U.S. and France have both announced plans to create new military structures focusing on space affairs, after India tested a satellite-downing missile earlier this year and the French government accused Russia of trying to snoop on its satellites.

Germany has cautioned however that a multilateral approach is better than individual national efforts.

“Space is essential to the alliance’s defence and deterrence, for early warning, communication and navigation,” Stoltenberg said today.