Panama became the 49th signatory of the Artemis Accords at a ceremony at NASA headquarters this morning. Ambassador José Miguel Alemán Healy signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the Government of Panama and in the presence of State Department Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Tony Fernandes and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
The United States welcomes Panama to the Artemis Accords. The U.S.-Panama bilateral relationship has flourished for more than 100 years, enhanced through our enduring economic, security, and cultural ties. The United States is proud to continue our strong partnership, working together to bolster the global economy, strengthen democratic institutions, and support innovation and education. From 1966 to 1973, the Panama Canal played a pivotal role in advancing space exploration by facilitating the transit of oversized NASA components destined for the International Space Station. That cooperation continues today, and a NASA exhibit in January 2025 at Panama’s most visited museum, the Biomuseo, will highlight U.S. achievements in space and their benefits for all humankind.
The Artemis Accords were established in 2020 by the United States and seven other countries. They set out a practical set of principles to guide responsible space exploration. Panama joins the United States and 47 other nations – Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay – in affirming the Accords’ principles for sustainable civil space activity. The Department of State and NASA lead the United States’ outreach and implementation of the Accords.