According to SpaceNews, Malaysia and the Philippines signed the Artemis Accords on October 26, 2025, bringing the total number of signatory nations to 59. The announcement came via a White House fact sheet during President Trump’s visit to Malaysia, which highlighted the countries’ commitment to “principles of safe and transparent space exploration.” The signings occurred amid a nearly four-week federal government shutdown that limited NASA and State Department promotion of the events. The Artemis Accords, now five years old since their introduction with eight founding nations, outline best practices for space exploration including transparency, scientific data sharing, responsible resource use, and safety zones to prevent interference. This development follows recent discussions among 39 signatory nations at the International Astronautical Congress about implementing Accord provisions.
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Southeast Asia’s Strategic Space Positioning
The dual signings represent a significant geopolitical shift in Southeast Asia’s approach to space governance. Both Malaysia and the Philippines have been quietly developing their space capabilities, with Malaysia establishing the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) in 2002 and the Philippines creating the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) in 2019. Their participation in the Artemis Accords signals a deliberate alignment with Western-led space governance frameworks rather than alternative systems being proposed by China and Russia. This is particularly strategic given Southeast Asia’s location along key orbital pathways and the growing importance of space-based Earth observation for monitoring maritime territories and natural disasters in the region.
The Artemis Accords’ Quiet Revolution
While the Artemis Accords began as a U.S.-led initiative, they’re evolving into a de facto global standard for responsible space behavior. The rapid expansion to 59 nations in just five years demonstrates how quickly the international community is coalescing around specific governance principles. What’s particularly noteworthy is how the Accords are creating a tiered system of spacefaring nations – from those capable of lunar missions to countries like Malaysia and the Philippines that bring strategic geographical positioning and growing technical capabilities to the table. The upcoming workshop in Peru mentioned in the discussions highlights the deliberate effort to ensure all signatories can actively contribute, not just endorse principles.
The Real Test: Implementation and Enforcement
The critical challenge facing the Artemis Accords isn’t recruitment but implementation. As Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi noted, members are “trying to find their value add” – essentially figuring out how to translate principles into practical cooperation. The provisions around “safety zones” and lunar resource utilization remain particularly contentious, as they touch on sensitive issues of territorial claims in space. The current U.S. government shutdown situation, which limited promotion of these latest signings, also reveals the fragility of American leadership in this domain. Without consistent funding and diplomatic engagement from Washington, the momentum behind the Accords could stall just as more nations are considering participation.
The Broader Space Governance Landscape
These signings occur against a backdrop of competing space governance frameworks. While the Artemis Accords expand, China and Russia continue promoting their International Lunar Research Station concept, creating what some analysts call a “bifurcated” future for space exploration. The U.S. State Department’s quiet diplomacy in securing these Southeast Asian signatures suggests a deliberate strategy to build consensus through bilateral agreements rather than United Nations frameworks. For developing space nations like Malaysia and the Philippines, signing the Accords provides access to technical cooperation and potential participation in Artemis missions without the massive investments required for independent lunar programs.
Regional Space Race Implications
The Philippines and Malaysia’s simultaneous accession creates interesting dynamics within ASEAN. Other regional players like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand now face increased pressure to clarify their space governance positions. The timing is particularly significant as multiple nations target lunar missions in the coming decade. For the Philippines, with its strategic geographical position for satellite launches and ground stations, Artemis membership could accelerate its relatively young space program’s development. Meanwhile, Malaysia gains credibility for its growing satellite manufacturing and remote sensing capabilities. Both nations essentially receive a “seat at the table” in shaping the rules that will govern the next era of space exploration.
