“Menwith Hill is, therefore, one of the most strategically significant US overseas bases, and is at the heart of making the world more dangerous.”
By Dave Webb, Chair of Yorkshire CND
Earlier this month, the US confirmed what many peace campaigners have suspected for a long time: that the US has deployed weapons in space. Space is already vital to the US military and has become a war-fighting zone. But Trump wants to secure complete control and dominance of space.
RAF Menwith Hill, based in Yorkshire, is the biggest US spy base outside of the US and has a central role in Trump’s plans for the military domination of space.
While the US has been exploring anti-satellite (ASAT) systems since the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink disclosed that these could be kinetic (hit-to-kill projectiles) or non-kinetic (including laser, electronic warfare and signal jamming weapons).
The importance of space systems was emphasised in 2021 when NATO extended Article 5 (the declaration that an attack on one member state is an attack on all) to include attacks in or from space. This means that, if a satellite were to malfunction or be hit by a meteorite, it could be interpreted as a first strike and could lead to a devastating nuclear war.
The US cites threats by China and Russia as their reason for spending more on space, but at around $80 billion a year, it spends four times more than China in this area, while Russia plans to spend around $6 billion a year over the next 10 years.
For President Trump and the US military, leading is not enough – they want complete control and domination. Back in 1997, US Space Command released its ‘Vision for 2020’ which contained the following quote, clearly expressing their intentions: “US Space Command – dominating the space dimension of military operations to protect US interests and investment.” This August, US Space Command published ‘The Space Warfighting Environment 2040’ which describes how the US is preparing to enforce that domination. Tedman was keen for the UK to follow, commenting that ‘the UK must now be more assertive in defending our national interests and our freedom of action in space… We must be able to control space, defend our assets, and – if required – deny its use to hostile actors.’
China and Russia have condemned the stationing of weapons in space but, if they respond in kind, space could soon become a battlefield.
There is no international agreement to prohibit the stationing of weapons in space. Although the 1967 Outer Space Treaty calls for the peaceful use of outer space, it only forbids the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in orbit. For years, the US, alongside Israel and, at times, the UK, have repeatedly voted against United Nations General Assembly resolutions to prevent an Arms Race in Outer Space. In not surprising news, the US has also consistently voted against a resolution on no first placement of weapons in outer space. China and Russia have always supported these resolutions.
RAF Menwith Hill: part of Trump’s so-called ‘Golden Dome’
Meink’s announcement may be in preparation for Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ project, a planned missile defence system which includes the stationing of hundreds of interceptor missiles in Earth’s orbit. Menwith Hill is part of this system and can detect, track, and target ballistic missiles.
So, why is the Golden Dome – or Missile Defence System – so dangerous? Effectively, it is designed to enable the US to launch a nuclear attack without fear of retaliation. This is creating a dangerous, destabilising effect and driving a nuclear arms race. The UK’s new Space Strategy – published soon after the US space weapons announcement – states that the government plans to continue to cooperate with the US across the space domain.
The UK has also just established its first military squadron to protect satellites in space and respond to emerging threats.
Rather than stationing more weapons in space, Britain should be seriously participating in ways to demilitarise the space domain and work towards cooperation and sharing rather than duplicating space resources that profit the few.
RAF Menwith Hill is also the largest US spy base in the world, outside of the US.
It is used to intercept communications as they are being beamed between foreign satellites. It also accesses US government satellites orbiting above targeted countries to locate and monitor wireless communications on the ground, such as mobile phone calls and WiFi traffic. Satellites that feed data to the base are being used to intercept electronic communications in the Middle East, to assist the US-Israeli illegal war on Iran. It is also highly likely it has been carrying out a similar role in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Menwith Hill is, therefore, one of the most strategically significant US overseas bases, and is at the heart of making the world more dangerous. That’s why CND is organising a day of action at the base on Saturday 24 October, calling for it to be shut down.
We need to stop the weaponisation of space, the new nuclear arms race, and Britain’s facilitation of genocide and war crimes. All those who want to end Britain’s toxic military alliance with the US should join this critical demonstration.
The day will start with a public meeting in Harrogate from 12 noon, with speakers including Louise Regan, chair of Palestine Solidarity Campaign and CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt. Activists will then travel by coach to Menwith Hill for the protest. There are still tickets available for the coach from Harrogate to the base. Registering in advance is essential, so book your place now.
- You can see the full details for CND’s Menwith Hill Day of Action here, and you can learn more about Menwith Hill here.
- Dave Webb is the Chair of Yorkshire CND. You can follow the CND on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.
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