Manama: On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the first International Space Summit, hosted by France from 9 to 10 September 2026. The Summit gathered leaders from various nations, representatives from international organizations, specialized space agencies, the private sector, and experts from the scientific and civil society communities.
According to Bahrain News Agency, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the Summit's opening session, outlining France's and Europe's vision for the future of space. He emphasized space as a domain increasingly dominated by strategic competition and international security, rather than solely scientific or commercial interests. Macron called for the establishment of clearer international rules for space activities, such as space traffic and debris management, highlighting the necessity for international cooperation amidst rising geopolitical competition.
President Macron also underscored the importance of achieving European strategic and technological autonomy in critical space capabilities, including launch systems, communications, satellites, and human spaceflight. The Summit saw the signing of over 50 contracts and agreements valued at more than £20 billion, indicating robust cooperation between Europe and the Gulf states, particularly in strategic sectors.
Dr. Al Zayani expressed pride in representing the Kingdom at this significant international summit on behalf of His Majesty the King. He praised France's efforts in hosting the event and the diverse participation from countries and organizations within the space sector. The Minister highlighted Bahrain's progress and ambitions within the space sector, following the establishment of the Bahrain Space Agency. He stressed that access to space should be a universal right and advocated for inclusive rules governing the sector. Bahrain remains committed to expanding partnerships, convinced that the future of space hinges on collective cooperation.
Dr. Mohammed Ebrahim Al Aseeri, CEO of the Bahrain Space Agency, stated that the Summit aimed to foster open dialogue among stakeholders and explore future actions through panel discussions and workshops. He emphasized that strategic thinking on space's future should be a global effort, reflected in the positions of states, organizations, and private-sector stakeholders.
Dr. Al Aseeri further noted the Summit's agenda, focusing on security and resilience, economy and competitiveness, governance and regulation, and science and exploration. A declaration supporting the International Telecommunication Union's regulatory framework on radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits was adopted, alongside two additional declarations on the sustainable use of outer space and space science data, promoting international cooperation and data accessibility.
The Kingdom of Bahrain's delegation included Ambassador Essam Abdulaziz Al Jassim, Ambassador to the French Republic; Dr. Mohammed Ebrahim Al Aseeri, CEO of the Bahrain Space Agency; and Ambassador Saeed Abdulkhaliq Saeed, Chief of the Coordination and Follow-up Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.