AUSTRALIA CREATES SPACE COMMAND TO COUNTER THREATS

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA » Two years after the United States inaugurated a military Space Force to mixed reviews, Australia has created its own Space Command to counter threats from China, Russia and other extraterrestrial powers.

The new force will expand Australia’s space capabilities and contribute to “a larger, collective effort among like-minded countries to ensure a safe, stable and secure space domain,” according to prepared remarks to be delivered Tuesday by Peter Dutton, Australia’s defense minister.

In a speech at a conference with several U.S. military officers in attendance, Dutton will also announce that Australia and the United States have agreed to partner on “a broad range of satellite activities.”

It is not clear how sizable the command’s ranks will be. The expanded commitment to space defense reflects the reality of a new technological landscape for war, in which satellites are vital tools for navigation, surveillance and attacks from unmanned weapons.

The announcement also amounts to another sign of deepening Australian-american security ties. The two countries, allies since World War I, have been working more closely together in recent years as China’s ambitions and military investment have become a greater concern.