From Europe to the Gulf: Comparative Pathways of Tech Middle Power Cooperation in Space

This chapter highlights the often-overlooked and increasingly relevant role of Tech Middle Powers (TMPs) in outer space, a domain that has traditionally been shaped and affected by great power competition (US vs. Soviet Union; US vs. China), but with a clear trend towards multipolar power dynamics involving middle power cooperation. Defined by their technological capabilities, strategic autonomy and cooperative potential, Space Middle Powers are emerging as actors capable of developing state-of-the-art capabilities. Aligning Space Middle Powers with the broader definition of TMPs used in this volume, the chapter constructs a capability spectrum designed for qualitative and comparative analysis of Space Middle Powers. Through this framework, it examines how TMPs use cooperation to develop capabilities. Europe serves as a case study for institutionalized TMP cooperation, demonstrating both the opportunities and challenges of integrating national capabilities within a politically fragmented environment. Furthermore, the chapter identifies future cooperative opportunities in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, suggesting pathways for new minilateral frameworks. Ultimately, the chapter argues that regional and institutionalized TMP cooperation holds significant potential for capability development. However, fragmentation, the lack of indigenous capabilities and the need to foster greater trust among actors remain major obstacles. Addressing these challenges will be critical to making strategic workarounding a successful pathway for TMPs in the evolving space order.