Officials from NASA and the Peruvian Space Agency discussed the future of the Artemis Accords during a meeting held on the sidelines of the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya. Officials said the accords include 76 countries. The meeting focused on the principles governing space exploration, including safety, transparency, sustainability and cooperation among states.
The congress in Antalya is organized by the International Astronautical Federation and co-hosted by the Turkish Space Agency and SAHA Istanbul, in coordination with the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology. The Artemis Accords session featured NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson and Peruvian Space Agency CONIDA chief Major General Roberto Melgar Sheen, and was moderated by NASA Deputy Spokesperson George Alderman.
Accords Expanding Around Shared Principles
Anderson said that 24 countries had joined the accords over a period of approximately a year and a half, saying the goal was to bring together countries that agree on carrying out responsible, safe and transparent space operations. He noted that a meeting had been held with member states, attended by approximately 40 countries, to discuss opportunities to expand the partnership and issues involving space debris around Earth and the Moon.
In response to journalists’ questions about the possibility of Russia or China joining, Anderson said that this would be possible if the two countries agreed in the future with the principles underpinning the accords, but added that such alignment was not currently apparent. He also explained that a country’s signing of the Artemis Accords does not prevent it from establishing academic cooperation with other countries, because sovereign states are free to determine what serves their national interests.
What Changes in Practice?
The discussions show that, according to what was stated during the session, the Artemis Accords function more as a framework for principles and international coordination than as a commitment to cancel other partnerships. Addressing space debris is also not linked solely to investment; Anderson emphasized that the first way to reduce debris is to prevent it from appearing in the first place, while each country determines its level of participation according to its national priorities and investment capacity.
Sheen spoke about Lima hosting the international Artemis Accords workshop, considering that cooperation between the Peruvian Space Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs demonstrated Peru’s commitment to space diplomacy and governance. He said the workshop was a step toward building trust within the international space community, at a time when Peru is preparing, according to his statement, for developments during 2027 and 2028.
Turkey and a Growing Role in the Space Sector
Anderson described Turkey as an example of cooperation with the United States and said that its signing of the Artemis Accords added it to a group of countries that share common principles and values. He also considered the hosting of the congress, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s participation with remarks focused entirely on space, to set a new standard for future congresses.
Anderson linked Turkey’s interest in space to its desire to develop Turkish industry. At the same time, he affirmed that the Artemis Accords focus on the civil space sector and peaceful, transparent exploration, not on weaponizing space.
The source does not provide details about financial commitments or new implementation programs resulting directly from the meeting, so its current significance remains connected to coordinating positions and expanding dialogue on space debris, governance and international cooperation. The meeting also referred to the United States publishing documents related to unidentified flying objects and unidentified aerial phenomena, with Anderson acknowledging that publishing information does not mean having the ability to explain every case.