Serbia joins the Artemis Space Programme

Serbia today officially acceded to the Artemis programme at NASA Headquarters in Washington, with the accession agreement signed by Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric.

The signing ceremony was attended by NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Wesley Brooks, Serbia's Ambassador to Washington Dragan Sutanovac, and Marija Gnjatovic of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation.

Minister Djuric said it was an honour to sign the agreement on behalf of Serbia, stressing that the act represented far more than accession to a set of principles and reflected Serbia's enduring commitment to international law, cooperation and the belief that the greatest scientific achievements are possible when nations work together.

He welcomed the fact that the Artemis Accords are firmly rooted in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and the broader body of international law that has guided the peaceful exploration of outer space for decades.

"We draw particular inspiration from the legacy of scientists and engineers of Serbian origin whose expertise contributed to the Apollo programme, one of humanity's greatest achievements," Djuric said during the ceremony, as reported by RTV.

He recalled that, during his tenure as Serbia's Ambassador to the United States, he had the opportunity to meet David Vujic, one of the members of that distinguished group, noting that their conversation reminded him that extraordinary achievements are always made possible by extraordinary individuals—people whose talent, dedication and vision transcend borders and inspire future generations.

"His legacy, and that of his colleagues, reminds us that a nation's contribution to humanity is measured not only by its size, but by the knowledge, creativity and determination of its people. That is precisely the spirit that guides Serbia today," Djuric said.

He reaffirmed that Serbia will continue investing in science, innovation and technological development while expanding international partnerships across a range of fields, including the peaceful exploration of outer space.

"By signing the Artemis Accords, Serbia joins the community of nations committed to transparency, interoperability, sustainability, scientific cooperation and the responsible stewardship of our shared space environment. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the United States and NASA for their partnership and leadership," Djuric said.

He expressed confidence that today's event would create new opportunities for cooperation between Serbian scientific institutions, universities, innovative companies and young researchers.

"Today we affirm that curiosity, combined with trust, cooperation and a shared sense of responsibility, can take us farther than any nation could ever reach alone. May today's signing mark another step towards a future in which outer space remains a domain of peace, discovery and shared progress for all humanity," Djuric said.

Following the signing ceremony, Djuric described the occasion as a historic day for Serbian science, emphasising that it had opened the door wide for Serbian research institutes, scientists and industry to participate in the global space programme.

He added that the agreement represents an important step not only symbolically but also in substantive terms, demonstrating that Serbia and the United States are now cooperating in the field of the most advanced technologies through scientific collaboration.

Brooks thanked the Government of Serbia for its continued cooperation and welcomed Serbia's accession to the Artemis programme, describing the Serbian Foreign Minister's presence in Washington as highly significant.

"Your presence here today to sign this agreement is especially important. Tomorrow we will hold the first Strategic Dialogue between the United States and Serbia at the State Department, marking a major step forward in bilateral relations. Today's signing of the Artemis Accords will serve as the prelude to that historic event," Brooks said.

He added that cooperation in space is, by its very nature, future-oriented, collaborative and optimistic.

"That is precisely what we seek for relations between the United States and Serbia. Inspired by NASA's Artemis missions, these Accords establish a shared vision for the responsible exploration and use of outer space. The expansion of the Accords from the original eight signatories in 2020 to the current 69 demonstrates the broad appeal of that vision," Brooks said.

According to Brooks, the agreement reflects the highest aspirations of the human spirit.

"The Accords demonstrate our commitment to cooperation, to working together and to advancing the peaceful use of outer space. Space unites us all in a shared endeavour, while these Accords unite us around a common purpose. As the Deputy Administrator mentioned, Serbian Americans played a vital role in NASA's Apollo programme. By signing the Accords today, Serbia builds upon that legacy and joins the wider community of signatories working to translate our shared values and principles into practice. I am truly delighted that Serbia will now be part of this journey alongside us and the other signatory nations," he said.

Anderson described the signing of the agreement as a key milestone in Serbia–U.S. relations.

He recalled the contribution of Serbian engineers to NASA's programmes, highlighting the "Serbian Seven," whose expertise, he noted, made a significant contribution to NASA's engineering achievements.

Ambassador Sutanovac observed that, 57 years ago, when Apollo was launched and landed on the Moon, few could have foreseen the historical significance that mission would hold for humanity.

He added that everyone in the Serbian delegation today, as well as many at NASA, is aware that seven engineers of Serbian origin participated in that mission and that Serbia is immensely proud of their legacy.

"Today we are witnessing the moment when Minister Djuric signs this agreement. It may be a small step for him personally, but it is a major leap forward and an important achievement for relations between Serbia and the United States. On behalf of my colleagues at the Embassy and in my own name, I would like to say that we are deeply proud and honoured to be part of this event today," Sutanovac said.

The Artemis Accords were established in 2020, during the first term of U.S. President Donald Trump, as a joint initiative of NASA and the U.S. Department of State, together with seven founding partner countries.

Serbia has become the 69th country to accede to the Artemis Accords.