Space Café Radio - Space, Power, and Dependence: A Geopolitical Review of 2025 with Dr Antje Noetzold

Germany's Bold Moves in Space Defense: A Comprehensive Review with PD Dr Antje Noetzold

In this episode of Space Cafe Radio, host Torsten Kriening interviews PD Dr Antje Noetzold, about Germany's significant shifts in space defense and security policies in 2025. They discuss Germany's constitutional changes allowing for increased space defense spending, implications of U.S. geopolitical moves, and emerging European space strategies. The conversation highlights Germany's ambitious 35 billion Euro commitment to space defense by 2030, the challenges and strategies for Europe to reduce dependency on the U.S., and the need for European coordination and accepted leadership in space security. Tune in to understand the evolving landscape of space politics and defense in Europe.

Dr Antje Nötzold is a Senior Researcher in the Project “Support for Arms Control in Space (SACS)” at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich and a Private Lecturer at the Departement of International Relations at Chemnitz University of Technology. She is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the American German Institute (AGI) at Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC, an Associate Fellow at CASSIS (Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies) at the University Bonn, a member of the SichTRaum (Security and Technology in Space) research network and Vice President of the Germany-wide Gesellschaft für Sicherheitspolitik (Society for Security Policy). 

Chapters

• 0:00 Space Cafe Radio - Space Strategies Unveiled: A 2025 Review with Dr Antje Noetzold
• 1:45 Germany's Constitutional Reset
• 2:07 Strategic Necessity and Risks
• 3:54 Germany's Coherent Space Strategy
• 7:25 US Intelligence Cutoff and European Dependence
• 9:17 Mixed Signals from the US
• 12:23 European Space Security Strategies
• 16:31 France vs. Germany in Space Leadership
• 20:09 ESA's Role in European Security
• 23:56 The Moon's Strategic Importance
• 27:43 Looking Ahead to 2026