Laura Delgado Lopez, a visiting fellow with the Americas Program at the CSIS, has raised questions about the recent expansion of the BRICS alliance and its potential impact on space governance. The BRICS alliance, which originally consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded to include six new countries: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia.
According to Delgado Lopez, the expansion of the BRICS alliance can be seen as a largely symbolic move. However, she argues that the more profound impact could be in the realm of space governance, encompassing the laws, regulations, and frameworks governing space utilization on both international and national levels.
Each of the six new countries joining BRICS has its own commitments to space programs. Delgado Lopez claims that while the prospect of collaborative space projects among these members is evident, the significance lies in managing space challenges in the future. This includes addressing issues of space security and utilizing the influence of BRICS nations to address Global South concerns.
The BRICS+ countries, which include both current and invited members, have a diverse range of space programs. From Russia's historical significance in initiating the Space Race to the UAE's recent achievements in Mars exploration and astronaut missions, each country brings its own expertise to the alliance. China holds a prominent position with a permanently crewed space station and a high number of rocket launches. India boasts a comprehensive program, encompassing human spaceflight and lunar exploration. Brazil and Argentina maintain well-established space endeavors, characterized by collaborative Earth observation initiatives and the development of indigenous satellites. Among the newer entrants in the group, including Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Iran, significant progress in space activities is evident, fostering international collaborations and asserting global autonomy through their space initiatives.
Delgado Lopez notes that space collaboration is gaining prominence on the BRICS+ agenda. China has launched the BRICS Joint Committee on Space Cooperation to facilitate satellite data sharing, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a "BRICS space exploration consortium." Russia and China often extend space-related cooperation offers to Global South nations, enhancing their political alignment. BRICS+ countries are also discussing space governance in the UN Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and some have signed the Artemis Accords, emphasizing transparency and cooperation in space.
Delgado Lopez suggests that the United States should leverage this opportunity to engage with other nations, even if they align with China and Russia. By leveraging the BRICS+ alliance, the U.S. can promote transparency and cooperation in space projects and strengthen international space governance.
The expansion of the BRICS alliance to include these new countries has the potential to reshape the landscape of space governance and collaboration. As the BRICS+ countries continue to discuss space governance and engage in collaborative space projects, it will be crucial to ensure that international space security and exploration are prioritized.
