Satellites are indispensable to Arctic operations, underpinning navigation, communications, monitoring, and intelligence. This dependence makes the region uniquely vulnerable to gray zone space warfare, including cyberattacks, jamming, spoofing, and the weaponization of dual-use technologies. This brief examines how governance gaps in space law create vulnerabilities for Arctic operations, where the interdependence of civilian and military systems coupled with legal ambiguity creates risks of escalation, strategic vulnerability, and severe consequences for Arctic communities and industries. It recommends strengthening space governance through improved transparency and situational awareness, integrating space and cyber regulations, clarifying state accountability for commercial actors, and promoting confidence-building measures among Arctic and spacefaring nations.
