Space
Trump’s Space Declaration Sparks New Lunar Rules Debate, India Faces Strategic Choices
During the U.S. midterm elections, President Donald Trump issued the "American Declaration of Freedom in Space," announcing that the United States would lead the exploration, development, use and settlement of space. The proclamation promises a return to the Moon by 2028, a permanent American lunar presence, and a future human mission to Mars, linking space leadership to economic prosperity and national security.
The declaration raises the question of who will set the rules for humanity’s expansion beyond Earth and whether space will remain a global commons or become an arena of competing national interests. For India, which has its own ambitions for human spaceflight and lunar exploration, the statement brings this issue into sharper focus.
Susmita Mohanty, director‑general of the space think tank Spaceport SARABHAI, noted that Trump describes space as "the province of all humans" while also declaring a "permanent presence by American citizens." She pointed out the tension between these statements and highlighted the historical international contributions to space exploration, such as Russia’s role in transporting U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station after the Space Shuttle retirement until SpaceX’s Crew Dragon began crewed flights in 2020. Mohanty also cited China’s growing capabilities, noting that since 2007 China has completed six lunar missions, including two sample‑return missions, and is working toward an astronaut landing by 2030.
Lt Gen AK Bhat (retired), director‑general of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), said the proclamation signals a shift toward competing frameworks for governing space activities. He described a clear divide between the Artemis‑led group and the ILRS‑led (China‑Russia) group, warning that space colonisation, ownership and related issues could sow the seeds for future contests and confrontation.
Legally, Article I of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty describes space as the province of all mankind, while Article III prohibits national appropriation of celestial bodies. The proclamation explicitly speaks of establishing a permanent American presence and developing resources, subject to international obligations, but does not confer ownership of lunar territory.
India’s strategic dilemma is compounded by its participation in multiple international frameworks. It signed the Artemis Accords in June 2023 and also signed the 1979 Moon Agreement, which it has not ratified. The two frameworks differ in their approaches to lunar resource governance. In August 2026, NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme, building on the Artemis partnership. Meanwhile, India’s Space Vision 2047 includes the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and a human Moon landing by 2040.
Bhat said this situation calls for a wider national debate on India’s positioning. "The issue is basically where India aligns its cards. Though signing of the Artemis Accords was an indicator of our inclination, there has to be an internal debate within the Indian community," he said. He also cautioned against dismissing the proclamation as political rhetoric, noting that the signature on the paper is that of the President of the United States and aligns policy for the future.
For India, the challenge may be to work with competing space powers without being confined to their geopolitical choices, while ensuring it has a say in the rules governing the next frontier.