Representatives from the United States, through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Department of State, joined delegates from 30 countries in Peru earlier this month for the fourth annual Artemis Accords workshop, the first time the event has been hosted in South America.
The gathering followed a fresh wave of signatories joining the accords, with Latvia, Jordan, Morocco, Malta, Ireland and Paraguay formally committing to the framework during ceremonies held at NASA Headquarters and at diplomatic events abroad.
Their accession lifts the total number of Artemis Accords signatories to 67 nations, underscoring growing international support for a common set of principles governing future exploration of the moon, Mars and deep space.
NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said the expanding coalition demonstrated the increasing momentum behind both the accords and the broader Artemis program.
“This gathering showcases the remarkable global momentum behind the Artemis Accords and our Artemis program,” Isaacman said.
“The Artemis Accords were created in President Trump’s first term and, as we execute his National Space Policy, we are putting these principles into practice.”
He added that participating nations would play a direct role in shaping humanity’s long-term return to the moon, including future plans for a permanent lunar presence.
Hosted by the Peruvian Space Agency, the two-day workshop focused on the practical challenges associated with increasingly crowded and complex lunar operations. Delegates participated in technical discussions and tabletop exercises examining issues including interoperability, orbital debris mitigation, non-interference between missions and the sharing of scientific data.
With more than a dozen lunar landing missions anticipated globally over the next 18 months, the discussions reflected growing urgency around establishing internationally accepted operating norms before sustained lunar activity accelerates.
Major General Roberto Melgar Sheen said Peru had deliberately sought to broaden South American participation by hosting the event.
“One of our objectives in hosting this edition of the workshops in our country was to increase regional participation,” he said.
“I am pleased to say that we have achieved this: All South American signatory countries are taking part in this event.”
The Artemis Accords were first established in 2020 during the first Trump administration, with the United States and seven partner nations creating a framework designed to guide civil space exploration and prevent conflict or misunderstanding as lunar activity expands.
The accords commit signatories to principles, including transparency in operations, peaceful use of space, emergency assistance, open scientific data sharing, protection of historic lunar sites and the prevention of harmful interference between missions.
The latest workshop also highlighted NASA’s evolving lunar exploration roadmap, including expanded opportunities for partner nations to contribute to the agency’s future Moon Base ambitions and wider Artemis architecture.
Peru’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, ambassador Felix Denegri, said the country viewed participation in the accords as an opportunity to strengthen its scientific and aerospace capabilities through international collaboration.
As competition and activity in space continue to intensify, the Artemis Accords are increasingly emerging as the foundation for a rules-based framework governing future lunar exploration, one that Washington and its partners hope will shape the norms of space activity for decades to come.
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