France Joins Space Multinational Force – OPERATION OLYMPIC DEFENDER — French Space Command Commander Maj. Gen. Phillipe Adam addresses the crowd during a ceremony where U.S. Space Command formally recognized France’s membership in Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender, Oct. 14, 2024, in Paris, France. The multinational named operation represents a growing commitment among the closest allies in space to jointly strengthen defenses and deter aggression, ensuring space remains a domain that benefits all of humanity. (Courtesy photo)

French Space Command Commander Maj. Gen. Phillipe Adam addresses the crowd during a ceremony where U.S. Space Command formally recognized France’s membership in Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender, Oct. 14, 2024, in Paris, France. The multinational named operation represents a growing commitment among the closest allies in space to jointly strengthen defenses and deter aggression, ensuring space remains a domain that benefits all of humanity. (Courtesy photo)

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French Space Command Commander Maj. Gen. Phillipe Adam and U.S. Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting, U.S. Space Command commander and Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender commander, pose for a photo during a ceremony where USSPACECOM formally recognized France’s membership in Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender Oct. 14, 2024, in Paris, France. The multinational named operation represents a growing commitment among the closest allies in space to jointly strengthen defenses and deter aggression, ensuring space remains a domain that benefits all of humanity. (Courtesy photo)

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U.S. Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting, U.S. Space Command commander and Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender commander, and French Space Command Commander Maj. Gen. Phillipe Adam address the crowd during a ceremony where USSPACECOM formally recognized France’s membership in Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender, Oct. 14, 2024, in Paris, France. The multinational named operation represents a growing commitment among the closest allies in space to jointly strengthen defenses and deter aggression, ensuring space remains a domain that benefits all of humanity. (Courtesy photo)

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France joins Space Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender

Published Oct. 15, 2024
By Space Operations Command Public Affairs

PARIS (AFNS) -- U.S. Space Command formally recognized France’s membership in Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender, Oct. 14.

U.S. Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting, USSPACECOM and Multinational Force OOD commander, and Maj. Gen. Phillipe Adam, commander of French Space Command, and representatives from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany – the newest member inducted Oct. 11 – participated in the formal accessions ceremony in Paris to commemorate the historic occasion.

The multinational named operation represents a growing commitment among the closest allies in space to jointly strengthen defenses and deter aggression, ensuring space remains a domain that benefits all of humanity.

“The inclusion of France into MNF-OOD builds upon our enduring partnership and codifies our shared commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the domain against the growing range of threats,” Whiting said. “Seamlessly integrating with our international partners yields a collective, asymmetric advantage that cannot be replicated by any one nation, command or service acting on their own.”

Originally established in 2013 under U.S. Strategic Command, OOD has expanded to a multinational effort that focuses on optimizing space operations, improving mission assurance, enhancing the resilience of space-based systems, synchronizing efforts to strengthen deterrence against hostile actors and reducing the spread of debris orbiting the Earth. In Spring 2024, the commander of USSPACECOM and MNF-OOD extended invitations to France, Germany and New Zealand. In September 2024, New Zealand formally accepted the offer.

"For France, joining the multinational Force – Operation Olympic Defender is a return to the spirit of La Fayette to defend together freedom in space against growing threats," Adam said. “It marks a new stage in the conduct of military space operations in coalition and sends out a clear message of strategic solidarity with our allies.”