Straight to your email! Subscribe to our Substack to receive full text transcripts of our exclusive interviews with esteemed guests on The Allied Airpower Podcast. natoaircom.substack.com Did you know that Türkiye and the U.S. are not part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)? How does maritime, air, and space parallel each other in terms of international law? What is Freedom of Navigation and Freedom of Maneuver anyways? And why does this matter to Airpower?In this episode, we draw on decades of experience from a career naval legal officer and academic from the University of Adelaide to help us answer these questions. Professor Dale Stephens explores how freedom of navigation and freedom of maneuver shape military and civilian activity across sea, air, and space.The discussion traces the historical roots of maritime law, from Roman claims over the Mediterranean to the Treaty of Tordesillas and Grotius’ principle of the “freedom of the seas.” The Professor explains how modern law balances state sovereignty with global trade needs.He highlights today’s challenges, including China’s South China Sea claims, security tensions in the Arctic, and air incidents involving lasers and close intercepts, showing how states push legal “grey zones” to expand control. The conversation then extends into space law, where treaties like the Outer Space Treaty set limits (e.g., banning weapons of mass destruction in orbit) but leave open questions about sovereignty, militarization, and commercialization.

Looking to the future, Dr. Stephens stresses the importance of defending the rules-based international order to prevent fragmentation into narrow national interests. He closes with a message of gratitude to NATO service members, emphasizing the honor and necessity of their sacrifice in maintaining global security.DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in The Allied Airpower Podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NATO, NATO Allied Air Command, or any national government. Any external hyperlinks or resources shared on this podcast do not constitute endorsement.