On April 12, 2026, a landmark date will be celebrated worldwide – the 65th Anniversary of the first orbital flight around the Earth performed by a citizen of the Soviet Union, Senior Lieutenant Yuri Gagarin, aboard the spacecraft Vostok. The dawn of the era of manned orbital flights became a triumph of Soviet science, which for many years determined Russia’s leadership in global space exploration. At the same time, Russia has consistently demonstrated its commitment to developing cooperation with other states.

International cooperation in the space sector continues to remain one of the key elements of the global scientific and technological architecture. Outer space retains its unique status: it combines competition among leading powers with the simultaneous necessity for close interstate cooperation to address challenges requiring substantial resources, advanced technological capabilities, and stable partnerships not subject to political fluctuations. 

In this regard, the space domain acquires additional significance for Russia as an instrument for maintaining scientific potential and steadily expanding cooperation with interested states.

Despite the gradual curtailment of cooperation in a number of areas with former traditional Western partners — namely the United States and the European Union — certain elements of collaboration within previously established projects continue to be preserved. A key example remains the participation of the Russian Federation in the International Space Station (ISS) program. Technical cooperation with NASA representatives and the fulfillment of obligations to ensure the station’s operation are ongoing.

In addition, the practice of cross-flights continues to demonstrate its effectiveness, whereby U.S. astronauts join crews of the Russian Soyuz-MS spacecraft, while Russian cosmonauts travel to the station aboard American spacecraft. At the same time, plans for 2028 envisage the beginning of a gradual deorbiting of the ISS, with its subsequent disposal in 2030. By that time, Russia intends to deploy its own orbital station, which will not only preserve the
national manned space program, but also enable the testing of new technological capabilities.

Against this background, the importance of Russian-Chinese cooperation in space exploration has significantly increased across a wide range of areas. These include the creation of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), where Russia is assigned a key role in developing a nuclear power source, as well as the implementation of joint scientific and practical projects, data exchange, and coordination of positions on international platforms. In 2025, a Russian-Chinese roadmap for satellite navigation for the period 2026–2030 was signed, opening new horizons for bilateral cooperation.

A separate area is Russia’s cooperation with countries of the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Partners are offered services for launching spacecraft and manufacturing satellites, as well as participation in educational and scientific programs. For instance, Indonesia has shown genuine interest in developing its national space infrastructure in order to achieve technological sovereignty in this field. The Russian State Corporation Roscosmos provides comprehensive assistance to the Indonesian side in implementing these plans.

Russia attaches priority importance to multilateral mechanisms in the relevant domain. At all international platforms, including the United Nations, Moscow advocates the inviolability of universally recognized principles and norms of international law governing space activities. Every year, draft resolutions are submitted to the UN General Assembly, including “Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space,” “Transparency and Confidence-
Building Measures in Outer Space Activities,” and “No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space.” 

These documents are aimed at facilitating the earliest possible development and adoption of a relevant legally binding international instrument, which remains the only viable means of ensuring comprehensive guarantees for keeping outer space free from weapons and for its use exclusively for peaceful purposes by all states without exception. It is our understanding that such a step would contribute to strengthening trust in space activities and achieving the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space.

Russia consistently advocates that all current and potential new participants in space activities reaffirm their commitment to existing agreements in this sphere. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty retains its fundamental importance, having laid the foundation for the peaceful use of outer space. It is also necessary to continue improving international legal instruments, including in light of emerging areas such as nuclear energy in space and low-Earth orbit satellite internet systems.
In 2025, at a meeting of the heads of space agencies of the BRICS countries, Russia proposed the establishment of a Space Council to address emerging issues, bring the positions of the BRICS states closer together, and promote joint initiatives. BRICS countries possess 21 spaceports and an orbital constellation comprising approximately 1,500 spacecraft, which constitutes a solid foundation for further cooperation.

In conclusion, several key trends can be identified in the international cooperation of the Russian Federation in recent years. The primary vector is the geographical reorientation of Russia’s cooperation from the Western direction toward the countries of the Global South. The most important factor ensuring sustainable future development is the growing significance of technological autonomy, supported by the strengthening role of national space programs.

Russia advocates for the broadest possible and equal cooperation among all interested members of the international community in the exploration of outer space. The modern position of Russia is most clearly reflected in the words of Yuri Gagarin: “Having circled the Earth aboard a satellite spacecraft, I saw how beautiful our planet is. People, let us preserve and enhance this beauty, not destroy it.” These words embody the profound wisdom of a unique individual who became a pioneer in space and opened the path for humanity into near-Earth space.

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Sergei Tolchenov is the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Indonesia. The views expressed in this article are those of the author.