By BlueShift | 2026-05-01

Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the nation at an April 29 ceremony in Rabat, pledging his country's commitment to peaceful space exploration and use.

The Artemis Accords are set of practical principles that guide the responsible exploration of space and sustainable space activity, established by the United States and seven other nations in 2020.

In signing, Morocco joins four other African nations -- Nigeria, Rwanda, Angola and Senegal -- becoming the 64th signatory.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and US Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III witnessed the signing.

The accession "reflects the strength of the US-Morocco alliance and the extension of that partnership into space, demonstrating Morocco’s commitment to responsible space exploration," the US State Department said in a statement.

"Today, we are delighted to see our alliance extend to space," Landau said following the ceremony, Moroccan media outlet Hesspress reported.

"The remarkable growth of the Artemis Accords, which now have 64 signatories from around the world, attests to the universal appeal of their vision of responsible space exploration," he said.

The signing comes as Morocco and the United States approach nearly 250 years of diplomatic relations, dating back to 1777, when Morocco became the first country to recognize US independence.

The United States bolstered relations with Morocco through the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in 1786 and jointly ratified in 1787 (two months before the US Constitution was signed).

Reaffirmed in 1836, the treaty formalized diplomatic and commercial relations between the two nations, and is the longest-standing formal agreement between the US and another country, per the US State Department's State Magazine.

In 1821, Morocco became the first nation to host a US diplomatic outpost.

The US inaugurated its newest diplomatic facility in Casablanca the day after the Artemis Accords signing ceremony, according to Morocco World News.

Looking ahead, Landau said there are "many opportunities for win-win cooperation," particularly in trade and investment, as Morocco continues to position itself as one of the region’s most dynamic economies.

Strategic partnerships

"The United States is an important strategic and political partner for Morocco across all sectors," Bourita said, adding that the relationship is built on shared values, common interests and sustained dialogue at multiple levels.

On the defense front, Bourita referenced the April 20 launch of African Lion, the largest joint military exercise on the continent, per Morocco World News.

Space-based technology is a core component of the annual US-led exercise this year, and is being embedded into operational planning, the integration of intelligence assets and battlefield decision-making.

African Lion 2026 involves more than 30 nations across Africa, North America, Europe and NATO, and will run until May 8 at locations across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal.

The Royal Centre for Space Remote Sensing (CRTS) is the national space agency responsible for Morocco's space program. Morocco is a member of the African Space Agency (AfSA) and plays a key role in its governance.

According to the agency, "Morocco has a solid space program that focuses on building Earth observation and remote sensing capabilities" and has established itself as a prominent space player through extensive international collaborations.

These include partnerships with the European Space Agency (ESA) and other European, African and Arab nations, among others.

The northwest African nation's Mohammed VI-A and Mohammed VI-B satellites are used for a wide range of applications including agricultural monitoring, urban planning, border surveillance, and disaster response.

"Morocco’s approach highlights a strategic blend of technological advancement, regional partnership, and defense enhancement, setting a model for space ecosystem development in Africa," per AfSA.