Monaco urges fair lunar economy at space congress in Türkiye

Olivier Minazzoli, Administrator of the Princely Government's Office of Space, represented the Principality at the International Astronautical Federation's Global Space Leaders Summit, held as part of the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya. Speaking to delegations from major space agencies and private operators, Minazzoli argued that any future lunar economy must be built on shared governance rather than a race for unilateral advantage.

The intervention reflects Monaco's long-standing strategy of punching above its size in international forums where legal and regulatory frameworks are still being written. The Office of Space, based in Monaco, has positioned the Principality as an advocate for smaller states and newer space-faring nations who risk being shut out of decisions over lunar mining, resource rights and orbital infrastructure as larger powers accelerate their own programmes.

For a state with no space launch capability of its own, the strategy is about influence rather than hardware: securing a voice in the treaties and norms that will govern activity on the Moon before those rules are set by whoever gets there first. Monaco has previously signed cooperation agreements with space agencies and hosted symposiums on space law, building a niche diplomatic role that sits alongside its better known work in finance and maritime affairs.