Internationalism No. 82, December 2026 Page 15 From the series Militarisation of space The first shot of the next war between the world's big powers, it is often said, will be fired in space. As conflict spreads on Earth, ill omens are emerging in the firmament ( The Economist , February 3 rd , 2024). A year later, the commander of the US Space Force espoused the same position. In a Congressional testimony, General Bradley Chance Saltzman wrote: Because of space's strategic importance, it is highly likely that satellites will be some of the first casualties of any conflict between the US and China . Early in his career, the general continued, space was considered a sanctuary . Satellites were few, extremely expensive, placed in remote orbits, and essentially untouchable by hostile activity. Today, General Saltzman stated, we are not alone in recognising the incredible strategic advantage offered by space, and we cann...