Lunar cooperation expands as Artemis Accords reach 67 signatories
New signatories join technical discussions on safe lunar operations and debris mitigation ahead of planned Moon Base construction.
The United States participated in the fourth annual Artemis Accords workshop in Lima, Peru, from May 13 to 14, marking the first time the annual gathering has been held in South America. The event coincided with the accession of six new nations to the coalition, raising the total number of signatories to 67. The new members are Latvia, Jordan, Morocco, Malta, Ireland, and Paraguay.
Representatives from NASA and the U.S. Department of State joined counterparts from 30 countries for technical discussions and tabletop exercises. The sessions focused on operating in complex lunar environments, with specific emphasis on non-interference, interoperability, the release of scientific data, and orbital debris mitigation.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman highlighted the global momentum behind the Artemis program during the workshop. He noted that the Accords were established during President Trump’s first term and are currently being executed under his National Space Policy. Isaacman stated that signatory countries are essential contributors to humanity’s first permanent outpost on the Moon, rather than observers from the sidelines.
Peru hosted the workshop to increase regional participation in space exploration. All South American signatory countries attended the event, with 90% participating in person and 10% virtually. Peru joined the Accords in 2024, with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Felix Denegri citing aspirations for scientific and aerospace development through cooperative ties with other signatories.
The Artemis community reviewed planned lunar landing and orbiting missions from attending signatories. With more than a dozen lunar landing missions expected over the next 18 months, the discussions supported NASA’s exploration plan. Signatories now have expanded opportunities to support NASA’s Moon Base following the agency’s Ignition event on March 24.
The Artemis Accords were established in 2020 by the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. State Department, alongside seven other founding nations. The agreement commits signatories to peaceful and transparent exploration, rendering aid, enabling access to scientific data, ensuring no interference with others' activities, and preserving historically significant sites. Countries representing every region of the world have now committed to these principles.
