By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Vietnam has joined the
Artemis Accords as the 78th signatory, extending its cooperation with the
United States into space exploration and committing to shared principles for
the safe, transparent and responsible exploration and use of space.
The U.S. Department of State
congratulated the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on joining the Accords,
describing space exploration as entering a new era of discovery and
opportunity, with growing importance for scientific advancement, economic
growth and the technologies that will shape the future.
As a new signatory, Vietnam
joins a growing coalition of nations dedicated to space policy that supports
human discovery and innovation through safe, transparent and responsible space
exploration and use.
“Vietnam will help put these
shared principles into practice as a committed partner in the peaceful,
cooperative use of space,” the U.S. Department of State said in a statement
issued on October 28, 2026.
Vietnam’s Minister of
Science and Technology, Vũ Hải Quân, signed the Accords on behalf of the
country on October 28. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks witnessed and
celebrated the signing at a ceremony held on the margins of Vietnam
International Digital Week in Ha Long, Vietnam.
The U.S. Department of State
said Vietnam’s decision extends the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership into a new frontier.
Built on more than 30 years
of cooperation, the partnership spans defence, economic, law enforcement, war
legacy and technological cooperation, while advancing peace, stability and
prosperity in a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The Artemis Accords were
established in 2020 by the United States and seven other countries during
President Donald Trump’s first term as a set of practical principles to guide
responsible space exploration.
The U.S. Department of State
and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lead the United
States’ outreach and implementation of the Accords.
