International Affairs
Biweekly Washington D.C. Updates for the Week Ending on June 13, 2025
Written by: Molly Prochaska
United States Space Policy Updates
- Representative Jeff Crank (R-CO) announced the creation of the House Golden Dome Caucus in partnership with Representative Dale Strong (R-AL) to promote support for space-based missile defenses. (Breaking Defense, June 10)
- The House Appropriations Committee released its draft Defense Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2026, which boosts U.S. Space Force (USSF) funding for research and development, and procurement. (House Appropriations Committee, June 9)
- Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), co-led with Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), introduced the Secure Space Act of 2025, which prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting satellite licenses or U.S. market access for foreign-licensed satellite systems to any entity deemed a national security risk. (Senator Deb Fischer, June 5)
- Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the Quad Space Act of 2025 that requires the Secretary of Defense to initiate discussions with allies on topics ranging from space industrial policy to space situational awareness. (Senator Kevin Cramer, June 5)
- Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) released a package of “legislative directives”, with the goal of adding $10 billion to a budget reconciliation to offset changes to NASA human spaceflight and exploration programs. The package includes funding for the production of the Space Launch System (SLS) for the Artemis 4 and 5 missions, the completion of Gateway, and the development of a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter, amongst other initiatives. (SpaceNews, June 5)
- The Senate Armed Services Committee unveiled legislation seeking to provide an additional $26 billion to the United States Air Force and Space Force for military modernization, space-based sensor development, and missile defense. (Senate Armed Services Committee, June 4)
International Space Policy Updates
- Kazem Jalali, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Russia, met with Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov, and discussed the development of cooperation between the space agencies of the two countries. Avenues of cooperation discussed included satellite construction, knowledge exchange, and joint development of infrastructure. (Mehr News Agency, June 7)
- Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell and European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Dr. Josef Aschbacher have signed a joint statement reaffirming the partnership between Canada and ESA. (Canadian Space Agency, June 6)
- The Vietnam Space Committee, OSB Group, and Thales have signed a MOU to promote education and space technology innovation in Vietnam. (Thales Group, June 5)
- The European Space Agency (ESA) has raised its funding goal for November’s ministerial conference, anticipating a three-year budget proposal of 23 billion euros, a 36% increase from 2022. (SpaceIntelReport, June 3)
- The United Kingdom released its Strategic Defense Review, noting space as a critical national infrastructure sector. (UK Ministry of Defence, June 2)
- In a bilateral meeting, the Foreign Ministers of Japan and Thailand confirmed continued cooperation in the space sector. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, May 30)
Space Industry Updates
- Voyager Technologies debuted on the New York Stock Exchange after raising $382.8 million in its U.S. initial public offering. (Reuters, June 11)
- The European Commission has unconditionally approved SES’ merger with Intelsat. (SpaceNews, June 10)
- SES announced that Elisabeth Pataki has been appointed as its Chief Financial Officer (SES, June 6)
- LaShawn Buckley is now Senior Vice President of Civil and International Space at Redwire Space. (LinkedIn, June 6)
- BAE Systems has been awarded a $1.2 billion contract by U.S. Space Systems Command to provide the USSF with missile tracking satellite capabilities. (BAE Systems, June 5)
- Jacobs Technology won a contract from the USSF worth up to $4 billion over 10 years to support the modernization of aging infrastructure and boost capacity at space launch ranges. (SpaceNews, June 5)
Reading Corner
The Council on Foreign Relations | India’s Space Policy: Between Strategic Autonomy and Alignment With the United States
The Council on Foreign Relations has released a memo on the evolution of India’s space policy, focusing on its domestic development goals and its strategic alignment with the United States. Notably, the article claims that India’s space policy has shifted from prioritizing socioeconomic development to pursuing prestige and national security. The article concludes that, while India is aligning with the U.S. on operational and technological fronts, its approach to space governance remains more tentative.