Cramer, Bennet Introduce Bill to Expand Indo-Pacific Space Cooperation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A key space security coalition is moving to expand as two U.S. Senators push to bring more Indo-Pacific allies into the fold. The Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender (MNF-OOD), a U.S.-led partnership with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. It is focused on strengthening coordination in space while improving interoperability, enhancing space domain awareness, addressing orbital debris, and deterring hostile activity. In 2025, the coalition demonstrated two successful bilateral maneuvers alongside partner nations.
Now, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) are looking to build on this momentum. Cramer and Bennet introduced theIndo-Pacific Space Partnership Act of 2026which would require the Commander of the United States Space Command to evaluate expanding MNF-OOD to include additional allies such as Japan and South Korea. Increasing the size of the partnership signals a broader push to deepen cooperation and strengthen deterrence in an increasingly contested space domain.
“Expanding Operation?Olympic?Defender with allies like Japan and the Republic of Korea makes us stronger together,”said Cramer.“Our coalition boosts deterrence, reinforces resilience, and protects our space infrastructure. By expanding the network to include allies in the same region as some of greatest adversaries and competitors, we are much more capable of countering hostile actions in space.”
“As China and Russia rapidly develop advanced space capabilities, the United States must bolster space cooperation with our allies to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,”said Bennet.“Bringing additional allies into MNF-OOD will increase resilience, enhance burden-sharing, and reinforce deterrence – strengthening our collective capacity to protect the space assets that underpin our national security and economies.”
Cramer is a leading voice in strengthening U.S. and allied space capabilities, working across the aisle to keep America ahead in a highly complex domain. Cramer and Bennett secured key provisions in the Fiscal Year 2026National Defense Authorization Actdirecting the U.S. Department of War to brief Congress on efforts to deepen space coordination with allies.
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Tags:Defense & Foreign Policy