Russia’s space posture has shifted towards strategic autonomy and greater cooperation with emerging nations, impacting its relationship with Europe and prompting a reassessment of Europe-Russia space collaboration.
The report analyses Russia’s shift in space activities from collaborative international partnerships to a strategy focused on autonomy, a centralized public sector and diversification. For Europe, this shift means a re-evaluation of its space cooperation with Russia, balancing the benefits of collaboration with the barriers posed by different standards, legal frameworks and political strains. Lastly, the report provides potential future cooperation scenarios, likely involving selective engagement rather than expansive partnerships. This will require careful assessment of the political climate and mutual interests:
- The focus of cooperation is expected to shift towards space exploration and applications, potentially replacing the declining collaboration in space access.
- Strategic and symbolic cooperation in space could underpin broader European efforts to use space as a tool for diplomacy and coalition-building.