US State Department Releases Strategic Framework on Space Diplomacy

The US Department of State has released a new space-related policy document, called “A Strategic Framework for Space Diplomacy.” The Strategic Framework discusses the circumstances that the United States (and its allies) now find themselves in regarding space policymaking and the commercial space sector, and outlines how the United States will be adapting its diplomatic approach to reflect the rapid growth of the space sector and the growing importance of space in US and global policy. 

The Framework pointed to the Start Department’s diplomatic relationships with other spacefaring nations as well as domestic partners like the National Space Council, NASA, and DoD (among many others), as having given them “space-specific policy expertise” that can be leveraged to the United States’ benefit. The Department said that America has “been a leader in exploring and utilizing outer space for peaceful purposes”, connected to their “commitment to progress for all humankind.”

That said, the document also recognizes significant challenges. Chief among them is the growth of the space sector, which the document counts as both an opportunity and a challenge. While the United States has the largest and most advanced space sector on Earth, and is “the global space partner of choice,” the Department notes that “the number of space-faring nations has dramatically increased” and that even “countries without current launch capacities are investing in space-based assets and infrastructure”. The report highlights that the capabilities of competitors, such as the PRC, are growing as well — the document notes that the PRC  is “steadily progressing towards its goal of becoming a world-class space leader”. 

This poses significant diplomatic dilemmas, not the least of which being that “increasing commercial leadership and participation mean we cannot rely solely on government-to-government diplomacy,” as the policy document puts it, but that government agencies must build relationships with non-state stakeholders as well.  

The Department’s response to these dilemmas is broken down into three so-called Pillars: “Diplomacy for Space,” “Space for Diplomacy,” and “Empowering the Department Workforce on Space Diplomacy.” 

The first Pillar, Diplomacy for Space, is focused on how diplomacy can be used to support America’s interests in space. It is focused on the importance of promoting and supporting a “rules-based international order” for outer space, and states that the Department sees the Artemis Accords as a “centerpiece” of this effort.  

The Pillar is split into three related goals: 

• The first goal, related to the promotion of the Artemis Accords, is focused on “international cooperation and partnerships in civil and commercial space applications.” Not only will the Department work to seek out more signatories for the Accords, but Artemis clauses like deconfliction, interoperability and transparency are specifically named in the Framework, indicating that the Accords are seen as central or guiding principles. 
• The second goal is about protecting the United States’ national interests, which includes avoiding “space threats,” “space-related incidents,” and the growing risk of space debris. It also mentions the need for modernizing export controls. 
• The third goal is a set of “cross-cutting priorities.” This includes supporting space science and exploration, “raising awareness” with allies regarding collaboration with strategic competitors, maintaining nonproliferation of export-controlled technology, protecting space-based infrastructure and cybersecurity, and maintaining space situational awareness.

The second Pillar, Space for Diplomacy, focuses on how American space policy and space capabilities can be used to aid in the country’s diplomatic goals. The State Department envisions using space-based capabilities to “make progress on global economic, environmental, political, technological, and societal challenges,” as well as to “build affinity for the United States among foreign publics.” This includes using space-based imagery and data to help with issues like “humanitarian crises and disasters,” “sustainable development,” “boundary disputes,” and “human rights issues and war crimes,” among others.

Specifically, the second pillar is split into two goals. First, to “Use Space Activities to Meet Diplomatic Priorities,” including using satellites to “build U.S. credibility and counter false narratives and disinformation,” and using “space-derived data and services” in policymaking. It also includes using space-based materials for STEM education, ensuring that the United States is a “preferred collaboration partner” regarding space. Second, to “Support Department Resource Management and Operations;” ie, to use space-related capacity to directly aid State Department staff in their work, as well as aiding with “all-hazards critical infrastructure security and resilience outreach, emergency planning, and continuity of government/continuity of operations requirement.”

The final Pillar, “Empowering the Department Workforce on Space Diplomacy,” is intended to directly aid the State Department’s personnel. Specifically, the Framework said that they would “provide diplomatic posts and the Department’s workforce in Washington, DC. with the modernized skill set of tools and knowledge needed to pursue space-related policy and programmatic objectives.”  

The Department also seeks to have its “space community of interest” support the Department on space diplomacy, “continue identifying synergies … of key issues,” help Department workers broaden their understanding of space-related data, and develop toolkits “to help translate U.S. leadership in outer space exploration.” 

SpaceRef reached out to the State Department for further comment; as of time of writing, however, no comment has been provided.