Washington, March 28 (NationPress) A bipartisan coalition of US legislators has unveiled a new bill aimed at broadening a significant multinational space defense alliance to encompass Indo-Pacific partners such as Japan and South Korea. This initiative arises amidst escalating concerns regarding the space capabilities of China and Russia.

The proposed Indo-Pacific Space Partnership Act of 2026 will necessitate the Chief of Space Operations of the US Space Force to report to Congress on the viability of expanding the Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender (MNF-OOD), as stated by the lawmakers.

“With China and Russia swiftly advancing their space technologies, the United States has to enhance its space collaborations with allies to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific,” remarked Senator Michael Bennet.

“Integrating more allies into MNF-OOD will bolster resilience, promote burden-sharing, and fortify deterrence—thus enhancing our joint ability to safeguard the space assets crucial to our national security and economic interests,” he further commented.

Republican Senator Kevin Cramer emphasized that enlarging the coalition would fortify collective defense. “Strengthening Operation Olympic Defender with partners like Japan and the Republic of Korea significantly boosts our strength as a united front,” he stated.

“Our coalition improves deterrence, enhances resilience, and secures our space infrastructure. By expanding our network to include allies situated near some of our greatest adversaries, we enhance our capability to counter hostile actions in space,” Cramer added.

The MNF-OOD is a US-led coalition that currently includes seven allies: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Its objectives include interoperability, space domain awareness, and deterring hostile actions in orbit.

The legislation requires a comprehensive report within one year of its enactment to evaluate both the feasibility and strategic value of this expansion.

This report must detail ongoing efforts to broaden the coalition and identify any necessary policy or funding changes needed for nations like Japan and South Korea to join. It will also assess how this expansion could impact US national security and whether it aligns with national interests.

Moreover, the study will explore what resources or authorities would be required from both the executive and legislative branches to facilitate this expansion.

This push coincides with broader initiatives in Washington to reinforce multilateral space cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Bennet has endorsed numerous proposals linking space policy with regional security, including new legislation aimed at addressing gaps in partnerships involving Taiwan.

Lawmakers have also integrated provisions in recent defense authorization bills to enhance coordination with allies such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India regarding space-related endeavors.