Chargé d'affaires a.i. at the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia to the United States Jānis Beķeris and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg also participated in the signing event. More than 40 Artemis Accords countries across six continents sent representatives to Washington for the event, representing more than two thirds of the current signatories.
In 2020, the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, joined with seven other founding nations to establish the Artemis Accords. The accords are the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing safety and coordination between like-minded nations as they explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Signing the Artemis Accords means committing to explore peaceably and transparently, render aid to those in need, enable access to scientific data, ensure activities do not interfere with others, and preserve historically significant sites and artifacts.
Today, Latvia aligns with a shared vision for humanity beyond Earth, grounded in international cooperation and the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of outer space. By joining the Artemis Accords, we make a clear commitment to these principles. Latvia already contributes to the global space ecosystem through its industry and research, and we look forward the opportunity to deepen cooperation with the United States and NASA, contributing to future space activities under the Artemis framework. Participation in the Artemis Accords is also an investment in the development of our students, researchers, and innovators.
More countries are expected to sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead. It remains unclear what specific contributions or projects Latvia will undertake as part of its commitment, and the immediate next steps for its involvement have not been detailed.