The French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the US vice president, Kamala Harris, sealed this Wednesday at the headquarters of the US space agency (NASA) a new era of cooperation with which they seek to deal with the growing militarization of space.
Macron, who arrived in Washington late Tuesday for a state visit, lamented that space has become a “new arena of conflict” with nations developing technologies capable of launching attacks on satellites, endangering global communications.
“Building together new rules for space is very importantsaid the French president, speaking to the press at the start of the event.
Kamala Harris stressed, in turn, the need for a “peaceful use of spaceadvocating that this area be governed by the same respect for the rules that regulate relations between nations on Earth.
Harris also affirmed that his visit to Paris last year served to open an era of space cooperation between the two nations and argued that today’s event at NASA headquarters serves to “seal” this new stage.
In addition, he was pleased that France had decided to sign the Artemis Accords in June this year, an international treaty developed by NASA.
The purpose of this treaty is to establish a cooperative framework for civil exploration and peaceful use of the Moon, Mars, and any comet or asteroid in the solar system.
“Space continues to be a place of undiscovered opportunities. there is a great job potential than the nations of the world we can do there and, in particular, when we work together according to common principles and values”, stressed the Vice President of the United States of America (USA).
Speaking of the possibility of a conflict in space, neither Macron nor Harris mentioned any country in particular, although Washington and Paris have accused China and Russia in the past of using space to military purposesspecifically with satellites for espionage purposes.
In addition to meeting Harris, Macron is expected to meet members of the US Congress later on Wednesday, participate in an event with nuclear companies and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
The French head of state will also have a private dinner with US President Joe Biden.
On Thursday, the highlight of the agenda will be a bilateral meeting, which will also be marked by tensions over Biden’s economic plan. to combat inflation and climate changewhich France rejects and considers a protectionist measure.
Other hot topics at the meeting will be the war in Ukraine, tensions with China and Iran’s nuclear program.
A state dinner is scheduled for the same day at the White House.
Source: Observadora
