Joint Statement on the Second Italy-U.S. Space Dialogue

Pursuant to their shared goal of advancing bilateral space cooperation as declared by their leaders, the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Italian Republic held their second bilateral Space Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on April 9-10, 2026. The second U.S.-Italy Space Dialogue follows the April 2025 commitment from Prime Minister Meloni and President Trump to strengthen space cooperation.

Both delegations highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation on space affairs in the framework of the strategic partnership between Italy and the United States.

In their welcome remarks, Lieutenant General Franco Federici, Military Advisor of the President on the Council of Ministers and Secretary of the Inter-ministerial Committee for space and aerospace-related policies; John Thompson, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs of the Department of State; and Assistant Secretary Taylor Jordan of the Department of Commerce, and Lloyd Freeman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Emerging Threats underscored that the ongoing bilateral Space Dialogue will deepen space cooperation and security for the mutual benefit of both countries.

At the dialogue, Italian and U.S. officials exchanged information on respective national space policies, including Italy's new space law and U.S. space policy updates announced in Executive Order 14369 on Ensuring American Space Superiority. Both sides reiterated their strong determination to expand already robust bilateral cooperation, including advancing national security space cooperation and information sharing; and strengthening bilateral commercial and civil space cooperation. In this context, the United States and Italy recognized the growing strategic importance of trusted commercial and civil space partnerships in advancing their shared civil, institutional, and national security interests. Both sides acknowledged the value of safeguarding and enabling cooperation between Italian governmental entities and U.S. commercial space operators in areas of strategic relevance, including low-Earth orbit activities, secure connectivity, and other space-based services. The United States and Italy are committed to facilitating light-touch regulatory frameworks for space activities and to advancing spaceflight safety. By doing so, both sides aim to foster an environment more conducive to investment, innovation, and global competitiveness. Both sides expressed concerns with regulatory overreach on space matters and emphasized the importance of regulatory frameworks that enable transatlantic space commerce and cooperation.

The participants reviewed challenges to their shared economic and national security interests. Both sides committed to deepen bilateral coordination on national security space policies, practices, and capabilities; particularly given both the growing scope of threats and potential use of space to track and potentially target NATO and Allies' forces, exercises, and other activities. They acknowledged the importance of strengthening Italian and other ally partner contributions to collective space security. In this regard, they noted the importance of enhanced operational coordination of national security space activities by leveraging innovative commercial space capabilities. Both sides also confirmed their interest in working together to strengthen the cybersecurity of space systems and the security and resilience of critical space-related activities and services against the full spectrum of threats.

The participants discussed ongoing cooperation in space exploration and science and opportunities to strengthen partnership in these areas, recalling the recent joint statement of intent signed by NASA Administrator Isaacman and Italy's delegated authority for space, Minister Urso. The United States noted Italy's national capabilities and expertise in exploration technologies that could provide critical capabilities to the Artemis program and Moon Base, potentially leading to an Italian astronaut alongside an American astronaut on the lunar surface. Both sides intend to collaborate on a sustainable and permanent U.S.-led Moon Base that leverages Italian technology to enhance shared exploration priorities, expand scientific knowledge, foster commercial development, inspire future generations, and prepare for the first human missions to Mars.

The United States welcomed Italy's upcoming Chairmanship of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening international space collaboration, including the need for reforms to ensure that UNCOPUOS is meeting core mandates efficiently. Italy briefed on the proposal to hold UNISPACE IV in 2027, which in their view could provide an opportunity to make concrete progress on these and other issues. Both delegations reviewed joint efforts to promote the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, including work in UNCOPUOS, and other UN bodies.

As founding signatories of the Artemis Accords, which reaffirm the importance of compliance with the Outer Space Treaty and other core space treaties, and establish a shared understanding for safe, responsible, and transparent use of outer space, both delegations expressed the importance of advocating for these principles in UN bodies and other multilateral fora. The United States and Italy recognize that the research, exploitation, and use of space resources will be essential as we seek to return to the lunar surface with like-minded nations, establish long-term human presence there, and enable more cost-effective travel into the deepest reaches of space, and plan to work together to promote space resource activities in accordance with international obligations. Both countries further reiterated the need to continue outreach on the Artemis Accords to non-signatory countries.

The two delegations decided to stay in close communication on expanding commercial space ties and leveraging commercial space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities and recognized the importance of addressing space debris.

Italy and the United States discussed their shared interest in strengthening dialogue and cooperation with new and emerging space programs around the world, including in Africa and Latin America. Both sides decided to continue the discussion on possible opportunities to work together to promote responsible behavior in outer space and to collaborate on training, education, and capacity building programs.

Following the government-to-government discussions, both sides intend to hold a commercial roundtable on the margins of the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, which is expected to bring together dozens of private space companies from each of the two countries and highlight existing partnerships. The session is expected to allow industry representatives to better understand how the United States and Italy promote their respective commercial space sectors and to outline opportunities and challenges for stronger bilateral cooperation. Participants intend to also discuss reciprocal investment into each other's space sectors. Discussion is expected to also touch on existing partnerships as a way to help boost ties between the two commercial space sectors and enable promotion of new partnerships.

Both countries remain committed to continue to work together in civilian, commercial and security sectors of space and to explore other collaboration, such as space industry sector development.