Joint Statement from the United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Intent to Cooperate in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of their agreement to commence negotiations on a Framework Agreement for space cooperation.

Begin Text

The United States and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed their intent to expand bilateral cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes on November 27, in accordance with the Jeddah Communique.

Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the U.S. National Space Council Chirag Parikh; Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Saudi Space Agency Abdullah Alswaha; and the CEO of the Saudi Space Agency and Deputy Chairman Dr. Mohammed Altamimi announced that the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have begun negotiating a Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes. 

The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia intend to hold technical discussions on potential cooperative activities in aeronautics, Earth and space science, space operations, and the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.  Our countries confirm their mutual desire to enhance cooperation involving commercial and regulatory development, responsible behavior in outer space, and space security.  This effort could promote opportunities for collaboration between our respective commercial space industries.

End Text

For media inquiries, please contact OES-Press@state.gov.