Monaco calls for fair lunar economy rules at space congress
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
A Monaco government representative urged shared, equitable governance of the Moon's resources at the International Astronautical Congress 2026.
Olivier Minazzoli represented the Principality at a high-level panel of the International Astronautical Congress 2026, where space agency leaders and senior officials from around the world debated the governance challenges facing the next phase of lunar exploration. Speaking on the panel "Lunar Economy: Building Humanity's Next Frontier", Minazzoli argued that renewed interest in returning to the Moon has shifted well beyond scientific curiosity and now carries real economic and strategic weight.
His intervention pressed for a multilateral approach to lunar resources, warning against a future where access and benefits are dictated by whichever nations or companies arrive first. Monaco has steadily built a profile in space diplomacy in recent years, using forums such as the IAC to position itself as a voice for smaller states in discussions typically dominated by major space powers.
For residents, the story is less about rockets than about the Principality's wider diplomatic strategy. Monaco has limited means to compete technologically in the space race, but it continues to use its seat at international tables to argue for rules that prevent the sort of resource grabs seen historically in other frontier industries, from deep-sea mining to Arctic territory.