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The Diplomat ·Future-gazing

The Militarization of Outer Space: Chinese Infrastructure in the Global South

by Ana Soliz de Stange

Published 2026-09-26 01:00:00+09:00

How do satellite antennas in Argentina and Namibia change who controls the future of space?

0:00 / 9:44 · Narrator Rasalgethi

Context

When politicians talk about the militarization of space, they usually picture weapons in orbit. But a 26 September 2026 essay in The Diplomat turns the focus back to the ground. Across Latin America and Africa, China is building satellite tracking stations and data centers. The piece pauses on the dual nature of these facilities, which handle civilian data while linking directly to military structures. Ultimately, the question is what happens when a single government controls a global network of antennas pointing at the sky, and how that reshapes the balance of power on Earth.

Show notes

An examination of China's expanding network of satellite ground stations across Latin America and Africa. A review of specific facilities in countries like Argentina, Namibia, and Egypt reveals how civilian space agreements function as a global tracking system. Together, this ground-based infrastructure could give China dual-use capabilities and a military advantage in space observation.

Read on The Diplomat →