Mexico confirms that it signed a space pact with Russia in 2021 although it has not yet entered into force

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Saturday that the Mexican Space Agency signed in 2021 an agreement with Russia on “cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes” that is pending ratification.

The Foreign Ministry has clarified that the agreement is in the process of approval and has not yet entered into force–despite the fact that more than a year has passed since it was signed–in a statement shared on its website.

According to the statement, in the case of Russia, the text must receive the approval of the Russian Federation Council, the country’s upper house, so that Vladimir Putin can sign the agreement and give way to its official publication. In Mexico, meanwhile, it is pending consideration by the Senate and subsequent ratification.

The communiqué clarifies that the pact does not contemplate actions related to Glonass, the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System, nor do they expect it to be included in the near future.

The government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador frames this agreement in the rest of inter-institutional texts between space agencies already signed by the country, such as the space agencies of Argentina (CONAE), United States of America (NASA), Hungary, Italy (ASI), Ukraine and Venezuela (ABAE).

In addition, they have moved that Mexico is currently negotiating new agreements with Japan, China and the European Space Agency.