Malta has signed the Artemis Accords, formally aligning the country with a growing coalition of nations committed to responsible, transparent and sustainable space activities.

During a ceremony hosted by Xjenza Malta at Villa Bighi, the Artemis Accords were signed by the Minister for Education, Youth, Sports, Research and Innovation, Clifton Grima on behalf of the Government of Malta.

The ceremony was officially opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg and Parliamentary Secretary for Research and Innovation, Keith Azzopardi Tanti in the presence of Her Excellency Somers Farkas, Ambassador of the United States of America to Malta, and featured a message delivered by Jared Isaacman, Administrator of NASA.

Established in 2020 by the United States, the Artemis Accords set out non-binding principles to guide civil space exploration and international cooperation.

Building on existing international space law, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, they promote peaceful use, transparency, interoperability, registration of space objects, data sharing, debris mitigation and the long-term sustainability of space activities. The Accords are closely linked to the Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon and advance international cooperation in deep space exploration.

Opening the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg said: “In an era where geopolitics is increasingly shaped by technology and strategic competition beyond Earth, the Artemis Accords provide a shared framework for responsible behaviour, transparency, and accountability among like minded partners. By reaffirming respect for international law and fostering confidence in cooperative space exploration, the Accords consolidate alliances and ensure that scientific progress is matched by diplomatic relevance and influence.”

Minister Clifton Grima stated: “By signing the Accords, Malta is taking a deliberate step to position itself within a high-value, innovation-driven global sector. This initiative strengthens our governance framework, enhances Malta’s international credibility and creates new opportunities to attract investment, build expertise and generate quality employment within the space economy.”

Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti said that the signing sends a clear message that space is no longer a distant or theoretical domain, but a rapidly expanding global industry with direct relevance to Malta.

“Its impact is increasingly evident across key sectors including maritime services, climate monitoring, digital infrastructure, security, insurance, regulatory and financial services,” he said.

In her remarks, Ambassador Somers Farkas said the Artemis Accords ensure recognized best practices from space agencies lead the way, bringing together a coalition of nations pledging peaceful and sustainable exploration and use of space.

The Government of Malta, through Xjenza Malta, is currently engaged in the preparatory technical work laying out the institutional and regulatory foundations required to license and supervise space activities carried out in or from the country.

Xjenza Malta is spearheading the drafting of a national Space Activities Act, which will provide the legal framework for commercial space operations. The signing of the Artemis Accords further reinforces Malta’s credibility as a responsible jurisdiction within the international space community, a statement by the Maltese Government read.

Main image: DOI/Darren Agius