Guido Torres, Executive Director of the Irregular Warfare Initiative, recently moderated a high-level panel examining the future of space security. The event, part of the 10th Annual Hemispheric Security Conference hosted by Florida International University, brought together more than 80 experts to explore challenges ranging from cyber threats to the militarization of space.
In the discussion, Torres emphasized the growing threat posed by anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons and the strategic ambiguity surrounding certain international space partnerships, particularly those involving China in South America. He pointed to China’s long-term presence in Argentina’s Neuquén space station and recent efforts to expand cooperation in Chile as examples of how scientific and academic initiatives may also carry military or intelligence implications.
“Governments hosting Chinese installations need to closely examine the terms of these agreements to ensure transparency, reciprocal access, and the protection of national sovereignty,” Torres said. He noted that while many Latin American countries have signed the Artemis Accords in support of peaceful, transparent space activity, they must align those commitments with the partnerships they pursue.
Torres also raised concerns about the use of dual-use technology in these installations, which, in the event of conflict, could transition from academic research to military operations, including ASAT targeting or hypersonic vehicle coordination.
This event underscores IWI’s mission to illuminate the complex intersections between great power competition, emerging technologies, and irregular threats, and to elevate informed debate in regions where policy is often shaped amid competing pressures.
Photo via Upsplash.
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