China has been using satellite financing and “debt diplomacy” to expand its strategic reach by providing high-interest loans and technical oversight for satellite programs in developing nations. While the space partnership between China and Nigeria has reached a critical juncture, the model finds a stark parallel in Pakistan. As Nigeria’s current satellite approaches retirement, the financial lessons from Pakistan suggest that the future of the nation’s orbital infrastructure depends on its bank account.
China has been using satellite financing and “debt diplomacy” to expand its strategic reach by providing high-interest loans and technical oversight for satellite programs in developing nations. While the space partnership between China and Nigeria has reached a critical juncture, the model finds a stark parallel in Pakistan. As Nigeria’s current satellite approaches retirement, the financial lessons from Pakistan suggest that the future of the nation’s orbital infrastructure depends on its bank account.