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Donald Trump’s top military adviser, Gen Dan Caine, has stated that American troops must prepare for combat in Earth’s orbit and around the moon. Speaking at an Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Caine emphasized the need for readiness from "the seabed to cislunar space," highlighting a new frontier in warfare after the US revealed it had deployed weapons in space. This announcement comes amid concerns that potential adversaries might militarize space; Lt Gen Gregory Gagnon of the Space Force reiterated this point and noted that China, which established its own military space troops in 2024, is seen as a significant threat in this regard.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
At the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized the urgent need for U.S. troops to prepare for combat in cislunar space and on Earth's orbit, not just in response to China and Russia’s advancements but as humanity advances further into space. The Space Force—established by Trump in 2019—recently activated the 77th Surveillance Squadron, responsible for detecting moving targets in space, reflecting a growing military presence there. This comes days after Troy Meink, Secretary of the Air Force, confirmed that the U.S. now has weapons deployed in orbit to maintain "space superiority." While nations like the U.S., Russia, and China have demonstrated satellite destruction capabilities from Earth, the Space Force’s current mission highlights a shift towards more active space warfare readiness amidst growing concerns over potential adversaries extending conflict into space.
Written for “Space Combat Preparation” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.45 for article 14680 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-17
American troops need to prepare for combat not only in Earth’s orbit but around the moon, Donald Trump’s top military adviser said on Wednesday, looking ahead to a new frontier in warfare after the US revealed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space.
asserted
it → need → space
Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, told service members and industry figures at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference outside Washington that the US military should adapt now so it “is prepared to fight, endure and win ... from the seabed to cislunar space”.
asserted
it → tell → space
Cislunar space is a term that describes the region between the earth’s surface and the moon.
asserted
that → describe → surface
The Space Force, the newest military service, which was created by Trump in 2019, is preparing to fight in space and around the moon because “humanity is advancing deeper into space – the Space Force’s job is to help be prepared to defend US interests”, Lt Gen Gregory Gagnon, head of the force’s Combat Forces Command, told reporters separately.
asserted
Gagnon → create → reporters
The announcement that the US military is ready to fight in the area between high Earth orbit and the moon itself comes days after air force secretary Troy Meink revealed at the same conference that the US has fielded “on-orbit space control weapons”.
asserted
US → fight → weapons
The spate of announcements about space weaponry from military officials over recent days flies in the face of long-standing conventions and international understandings that have held outer space as only to be used for peaceful purposes and remain non-militarized.
asserted
that → fly → purposes
The Space Force says potential US foes may look to turn space into a battleground
While multiple nations, including the US, have demonstrated the ability to shoot down satellites in Earth orbit, those demonstrations have taken place from the ground against their own satellites.
uncertain
demonstrations → say → satellites
However, according to Gagnon, “the intelligence community has been clear that potential adversaries have been seeking to extend warfare into space” and that the US military needs to react.
uncertain
military → accord → space
“Our potential adversaries such as the PRC are actively pursuing activities in the system, in parts of space,” Gagnon said, referring to the People’s Republic of China, the country’s official name.
asserted
Gagnon → pursue → China
China established its own military space troops in 2024, charging them with boosting capability to manage space crises.
asserted
China → establish → crises
When asked about the US announcement on deploying weapons in space, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters Tuesday that “China always upholds the peaceful use of outer space, maintains outer space security and opposes the weaponization, militarization and an arms race in outer space”.
asserted
China → ask → space
Guo also urged the US to “stop expanding its military preparations in outer space”.
asserted
Guo → urge → space
It is not clear whether deploying weapons in space or possible plans to use them around the moon will run afoul of international treaties that prevent the militarization of space.
asserted
that → deploy → space
The Outer Space treaty of 1967, which the US and China have signed, says celestial objects such as the moon are to be used “exclusively for peaceful purposes,” nuclear weapons cannot be placed in space and countries are “liable for damage caused by their space objects”.
asserted
countries → sign → objects
There was a renewed push two years ago to further bolster anti-militarization measures in the United Nations following US reports that Russia was developing a space-based weapon.
asserted
Russia → be → weapon
Gagnon also says the US aims to double the size of the Space Force over the next five years – to roughly 25,000 service members – and that about two-thirds of that growth would be focused on Combat Forces Command.
asserted
thirds → say → Command
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