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Dickinson travels to IndoPacific to strengthen space cooperation

By Staff Report / Published December 10, 2022

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U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, U.S. Space Command commander, poses for a picture with Maj. Gen. Philippe Adams, French Space Commander, and a variety of staff members from USSPACECOM and French Space Command, prior to the Combined Space Operations Principals’ Board in Wellington, New Zealand, Dec. 6. The CSpO Principals’ Board, held Dec. 7-8, gathered senior leaders from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to discuss a shared commitment to a rules-based international order centered around responsible behavior in space. The CSpO Principals Board last met in December 2021 in the United States, reaffirming support to prevent conflicts extending to or originating in space and to hold accountable those who threaten the safety of the space environment. In February of this year, the group released the “CSpO Vision 2031,” outlining the initiative’s overarching purpose and highlights its guiding principles, including: freedom of use of space, responsible and sustainable use of space, partnering while recognizing sovereignty, and upholding international law.

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U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, U.S. Space Command commander, left center, and various members of USSPACECOM speak with Royal Canadian Air Force Lt. Gen. Eric Kenny, commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and staff members, prior to the Combined Space Operations Principals’ Board in Wellington, New Zealand, Dec. 6. The CSpO Principals’ Board, held Dec. 7-8, gathered senior leaders from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to discuss a shared commitment to a rules-based international order centered around responsible behavior in space. Since 2012, the CSpO initiative has been a premier multinational defense forum focused on advancing collaboration and information sharing on space security topics.

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U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, U.S. Space Command commander, right, poses for a picture with with Lt. Gen. Ansgar Rieks, German Air Force vice chief of staff, prior to the Combined Space Operations Principals’ Board in Wellington, New Zealand, Dec. 6. The CSpO Principals’ Board, held Dec. 7-8, gathered senior leaders from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to discuss a shared commitment to a rules-based international order centered around responsible behavior in space. Since 2012, the CSpO initiative has been a premier multinational defense forum focused on advancing collaboration and information sharing on space security topics.

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Members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force perform a “Haka,” a ceremonial performance with Maori roots prior to the Combined Space Operations Principals’ Board in Wellington, New Zealand, Dec. 6. The CSpO Principals’ Board, held Dec. 7-8, gathered senior leaders from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to discuss a shared commitment to a rules-based international order centered around responsible behavior in space. The CSpO Principals Board last met in December 2021 in the United States, reaffirming support to prevent conflicts extending to or originating in space and to hold accountable those who threaten the safety of the space environment. In February of this year, the group released the “CSpO Vision 2031,” outlining the initiative’s overarching purpose and highlights its guiding principles, including: freedom of use of space, responsible and sustainable use of space, partnering while recognizing sovereignty, and upholding international law.

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Peeni Henare, New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, speaks during a welcome ceremony prior to the Combined Space Operations Principals’ Board in Wellington, New Zealand, Dec. 6. The CSpO Principals’ Board, held Dec. 7-8, gathered senior leaders from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to discuss a shared commitment to a rules-based international order centered around responsible behavior in space. The CSpO Principals Board last met in December 2021 in the United States, reaffirming support to prevent conflicts extending to or originating in space and to hold accountable those who threaten the safety of the space environment. In February of this year, the group released the “CSpO Vision 2031,” outlining the initiative’s overarching purpose and highlights its guiding principles, including: freedom of use of space, responsible and sustainable use of space, partnering while recognizing sovereignty, and upholding international law.

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Senior-ranking attendees of the Combined Space Operations Principals’ Board in Wellington, New Zealand, pose for a picture on Dec. 6. The CSpO Principals’ Board, held Dec. 7-8, gathered senior leaders from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to discuss a shared commitment to a rules-based international order centered around responsible behavior in space. The CSpO Principals Board last met in December 2021 in the United States, reaffirming support to prevent conflicts extending to or originating in space and to hold accountable those who threaten the safety of the space environment. In February of this year, the group released the “CSpO Vision 2031,” outlining the initiative’s overarching purpose and highlights its guiding principles, including: freedom of use of space, responsible and sustainable use of space, partnering while recognizing sovereignty, and upholding international law.

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PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- U.S. Space Command commander U.S. Army Gen. James H. Dickinson visited New Zealand to participate in the Combined Space Operations Principals Board meeting Dec. 6-8.

The annual event brought together counterparts from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with a focus on advancing collaboration and information sharing on space security topics.

CSpO is an initiative that seeks to generate and improve cooperation, coordination, and interoperability opportunities to sustain freedom of action in space, optimize resources, enhance mission assurance and resilience, and deter conflict.

“A unified stance by Allies and Partners is critical to countering the coercion and subversion that threatens the international rules-based order here in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” said Dickinson.

During this year’s event, defense leaders emphasized the need to continue to promote responsible behaviors in space, while collaboratively addressing challenges to the safety and security of space-related operations.

In addition to U.S. Space Command, participants from the U.S. included Dr. John Plumb, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy; U.S. Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations; and Mr. Damon Wells, National Reconnaissance Office.

The CSpO Principals Board last met in December 2021 in the United States, reaffirming support to prevent conflicts extending to or originating in space and to hold accountable those who threaten the safety of the space environment. In February of this year, the group released the “CSpO Vision 2031,” outlining the initiative’s overarching purpose and highlights its guiding principles, including: freedom of use of space, responsible and sustainable use of space, partnering while recognizing sovereignty, and upholding international law.

These guiding principles steer the initiative’s objectives and are supported by several lines of effort, from developing and operating resilient, interoperable architectures to fostering responsible military behaviors in space and sharing intelligence and information, all leading to the pursuit of a safe, secure, and sustainable space domain.

“Thank you to Mike Swain, New Zealand Defense Force Deputy Secretary for Defense Policy and Planning, and Air Vice Marshal Andrew Clark, Chief of New Zealand Air Force, for hosting this year’s event. New Zealand is an important leader in the Pacific, a key contributor to global security, and a valuable military partner,” Dickinson said. “We look forward to our continued partnership with New Zealand and all CSpO participants to ensure a safe, stable, sustainable, and secure space environment.”

USSPACECOM conducts operations in, from, and to space to deter conflict, and if necessary, defeat aggression, deliver space combat power for the Joint and Combined force, and defend U.S. vital interests with allies and partners.