Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the top military adviser to President Donald Trump, said on Wednesday that U.S. forces must be prepared to operate and, if necessary, fight in the region around the moon.
Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference outside Washington, Caine told service members and industry representatives the military should position itself so it "is prepared to fight, endure and win … from the seabed to cislunar space." His remarks came after the United States publicly acknowledged for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space.
Cislunar space generally refers to the area between Earth and the moon, and around the moon itself. Caine’s comments emphasised the need for the U.S. military to adapt doctrine, training and systems to operate across a wider set of domains as technology and strategic competition evolve.
The conference brought together defence leaders, military personnel and private-sector representatives to discuss emerging threats and capabilities in air, space and cyber arenas. Caine’s remarks underscore a growing focus inside the U.S. defence establishment on the strategic implications of activity beyond Earth orbit.
The public disclosure that weapons have been placed in space and the call to prepare for operations in cislunar space are likely to shape procurement priorities and international discussions about the rules and risks of military activity off Earth. Observers say such developments will be closely watched by allies and competitors alike as nations reassess the strategic landscape of space.