PM Modi Urges Global Cooperation Over Confrontation at Paris Space Summit
India invites international partners to join its roadmap toward a 2035 space station and 2040 lunar landing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a shift toward inclusive and sustainable space exploration during the first International Space Summit in Paris on September 10, 2026. Addressing global leaders via video conference, the Indian leader urged the international community to prioritize collective responsibility as the orbital environment becomes increasingly congested.
During the summit, PM Modi explicitly advocated for a global framework defined by "cooperation over confrontation, sustainability over short-term gain, and inclusion over exclusion." He invited France and other nations to act as "co-travellers" in India's upcoming ventures, emphasizing that the expansion of space activities must benefit the global community rather than a few powerful actors.
A Roadmap to the Moon
This call for partnership comes as India accelerates its own domestic space ambitions. The government has outlined a rigorous roadmap that includes the establishment of an Indian space station by 2035. Following that milestone, India aims to land an Indian citizen on the Moon by 2040. These goals follow a period of rapid expansion for the Indian space sector, which has seen the successful deployment of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar south pole landing and the Aditya-L1 solar mission.
The Stakes of Orbital Congestion
The push for multilateralism is driven by the rapid proliferation of both state and private actors in the outer space domain. As more powerful technologies enter the fray and orbits become more crowded, the risk of geopolitical friction and orbital debris increases. By positioning itself as a proponent of "democratic" space exploration, India is attempting to lead a movement that prevents the monopolization of space resources and ensures that scientific data is shared for the common good.
The Future of Space Diplomacy
Moving forward, the focus will remain on whether major space-faring nations can translate these calls for cooperation into binding frameworks. While India has opened its space sector to private enterprise to drive growth, its diplomatic strategy remains rooted in inclusivity. The international community will be watching to see how these "co-traveller" invitations manifest in concrete joint missions and shared infrastructure as the 2035 deadline for the Indian space station approaches.