IP26037 

Author: Bich Tran

Published: 09 March 2026

Seven out of eleven members of ASEAN possess at least one active satellite as of March 2026, demonstrating growing interest in outer space capabilities. While a considerable number of initiatives have emerged to assist these states in building their capacity, the majority of these are concentrated on the technical and legal aspects, with comparatively few addressing security issues. This is a result of the region’s focus on the economic benefits rather than the strategic implications of outer space. As the region’s reliance on space-based infrastructure continues to deepen and the strategic importance of these assets becomes increasingly apparent, a more balanced approach spread across the legal, technical and security dimensions is urgently needed.

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https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/ip26037-the-neglected-security-aspect-of-outer-space-capacity-building-in-southeast-asia/

The article was published by RSIS.

The Romanian Institute for Europe-Asia Studies (IRSEA) and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU have agreed to enter into an informal agreement on republishing their studies and analysis.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position or view of IRSEA.