The United States welcomed Uzbekistan's accession to the Artemis Accords, which define the principles of international cooperation in the peaceful exploration of space. This was announced on October 19, 2026, by the US Department of State. The Republic became the 77th participant in the initiative, created at the suggestion of Washington and seven other states in 2020.
On behalf of Uzbekistan, the document was signed by Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. The ceremony took place in Samarkand after negotiations with the American delegation, which included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Washington expressed hope that the republic's accession would contribute to the further development of the expanded strategic partnership between the two countries on the eve of the upcoming G20 summit.
The Artemis Accords are a voluntary set of principles aimed at the safe, transparent, and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, asteroids, comets, and other celestial bodies for civilian purposes. International cooperation within the initiative is coordinated by the US Department of State and NASA.
