France steps into the space race
The inauguration of France’s Space Command in Toulouse marks a decisive moment in the country’s effort to assert strategic autonomy in orbit. President Emmanuel Macron used the occasion to unveil the National Space Strategy — a framework integrating civil innovation and defence capability, positioning France and Europe as credible actors in the increasingly contested domain of outer space.
On 12 November 2025, President Emmanuel Macron officially inaugurated the first operational capability of the Space Command (Commandement de l’Espace, CDE) at Air Base 101 in Toulouse. The ceremony symbolised not only the operational readiness of France’s military space infrastructure but also a new phase in national and European ambitions beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
During his address, Macron presented the National Space Strategy (Stratégie Nationale Spatiale, SNS) — a comprehensive plan shaping France’s and Europe’s future role in space, both on civil and military fronts. The announcement precedes two key events: the ESA Ministerial Conference in Bremen (26–27 November 2025) and the French Space Summit scheduled for spring 2026. Both gatherings are expected to define Europe’s long-term space governance and funding priorities.
The French strategy is structured around five pillars, designed to strengthen Europe’s autonomy, innovation, and defence posture in orbit:
- Maintaining autonomous access to space – ensuring France and Europe retain the independent capability to launch and operate missions without external reliance.
- Reassessing the industrial and commercial model – promoting competitiveness, public–private cooperation, and the growth of dual-use technologies.
- Expanding strategic and defence capabilities – reinforcing surveillance, secure communications, and the protection of orbital assets against emerging threats.
- Adopting a more assertive approach to science and exploration – increasing participation in international research missions and developing new exploration technologies.
- Revitalising European space cooperation – through enhanced competitiveness, a "European preference" in procurement, and new models of governance.
Macron underlined that these actions signify France’s transition from an observer to an active player in the global space race. The CDE’s operational status embodies a new balance between national defence, industrial innovation, and European coordination — a model aligning military security with technological sovereignty.
With the activation of the Space Command and the rollout of the National Space Strategy, France firmly enters the global competition for dominance in orbit. Paris now seeks not only to defend its interests in space but also to shape Europe’s collective capability. The message is clear: in the 21st century, control of space is no longer symbolic — it is strategic.
