Date: December 18, 2025, 17:00 CET, Online

The Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI) held another Space Security Guest Lecture, entitled “Space as a Warfighting Domain and the Relevance of Deterrence”.

The lecture was delivered by Mr. Nicholas Taylor, an independent analyst and consultant internationally recognized for his expertise in deterrence. From 2007 to 2025, he served at the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), where he led research and analysis on deterrence and other strategic effects. During his tenure, he pioneered a novel approach to developing and implementing integrated deterrence strategies and directed a team responsible for designing deterrence campaigns for the UK Government. He also provided senior policymakers with high-level deterrence advice. While at Dstl, Mr. Taylor conducted research on the theory of space warfare and led the UK’s contribution to NATO’s Alliance Space Deterrence Framework war game. He holds visiting and associate roles with RAND Europe and King’s College London, and is a Member of the NATO Chief Scientist’s Panel of Experts as a deterrence subject matter expert.

 

With hybrid threats intensifying since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and European states now committing to rearmament and stronger defense — attention has increasingly turned toward space. The domain is becoming more contested and congested, with a growing number of state and non-state actors gaining access and capabilities. In his lecture, Mr. Nicholas Taylor outlined the key concepts underpinning space as a warfighting domain, examine how different nations integrate space into their defense and security strategies, and explore the role of deterrence alongside related effects such as coercion and assurance.