Bangladesh, Nov. 29 -- The European Space Agency (ESA), long regarded as one of the worlds premier civilian space institutions, is entering a new era-one defined by defense cooperation, military-aligned research, and heightened geopolitical competition. In a landmark shift, the agencys 23 member states have approved a resolution formally authorizing ESA to develop space systems for “security and defense” purposes. For an institution whose founding principles emphasized purely peaceful scientific exploration, the move marks a strategic and ideological transformation whose implications stretch far beyond the agencys headquarters in Paris.

This evolution is unfolding against the backdrop of a rapidly militarizing Europe. EU lead...