The Republic of Croatia formally joined the Artemis Accords on Wednesday, becoming the 74th signatory to the international space cooperation framework. The signing ceremony was held in the capital Zagreb in the presence of NASA and U.S. Department of State officials.
Croatia's Minister of Science, Education, and Youth, Radovan Fuchs, signed on behalf of the country. NASA Deputy Matt Anderson, participating via pre-recorded remarks, framed the accession as the opening of a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. "The opportunities to contribute are growing," Anderson said. "And now we can look toward what the United States and Croatia can accomplish together beyond Earth."
Fuchs cited growing domestic interest in the space sector as a key driver of the decision. "Croatian scientists and companies are demonstrating growing interest in the space industry," he said, adding that joining the Accords had been recognized as a key opportunity for developing Croatia's scientific community, introducing new technologies, and strengthening the economy.
Croatia's space ambitions received a concrete marker on Dec. 21, 2024, when the country's first satellite, CroCube, successfully reached orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The Artemis Accords were established in 2020 by NASA and the U.S. Department of State together with seven other founding nations, in response to growing governmental and private-sector interest in lunar activities. The framework sets out practical principles for exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond, committing signatories to operate peaceably and transparently, render aid when needed, share scientific data, avoid interference with others' activities, and preserve historically significant sites and artifacts.
U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Nicole McGraw and Gregory Mann, NASA's Europe representative, attended the ceremony in Zagreb.
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