Washington, June 19: US President Donald Trump has ordered to create a new force of military to protect American interests even in the outer space. It would be a sixth military force and said it would be "separate but equal" from the Air Force. Trump announced the plans during a speech at a meeting of the National Space Council. He also expressed that this initiative will also be "great in terms of job but it’s great for the psyche of our country."

Trump said in the meeting, "We must have American dominance in space. Very importantly, I'm hereby directing the Department of Defence and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish the Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. That's a big step." Along with this announcement, Trump also signed the Space Policy Directive -- 3, a part of his administration to lead into the space arena. "Our destiny beyond the Earth is not only a matter of national identity but a matter of national security," Trump said.

Trump had expressed the idea of space force as a national security strategy on March 13.  "Space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air, and sea. We have the Air Force, we'll have the space force," he had said. The President also asked Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to undertake the responsibilities of creating the new force.

With the announcement of his interest in expansion in space, he will keep compete with China and Russia and thus keep military conflicts in space at a distance while protecting his countries interests. The sixth branch of the military will join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 19, 2018 10:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).