Launches and relations define space diplomacy in Peru

The Peruvian case shows that the space sector can serve as an instrument of foreign policy and a driver of regional integration, according to a recent paper by Oscar Adrian Robalino Florett (Space Economy Evolution - SEE Lab). In a historically fragmented Latin America, the development of space capabilities and participation in international programs are transforming an “intermediate” country into a potential facilitator of cooperation.

The most interesting point, for those who view these dynamics through a managerial lens, is that space, beyond producing technology, generates relationships. Peru, thanks to a strategy that combines collaboration with the United States, China, and Europe, is building a position capable of translating into industrial, diplomatic, and even social advantages.

Soft power

The research comes at a time of profound transformation in global governance. Rivalry among major powers, the gradual weakening of multilateralism, and the growth of the space economy are reshaping international balances. Space, once the exclusive domain of a few actors, is now a competitive arena where technological, economic, and geopolitical dimensions coexist.

More than 60 countries now have access to space, but opportunities remain unevenly distributed. Emerging countries are asking how to participate in this new economy without settling for a subordinate role.

In Latin America, the literature has focused mainly on the major regional players (Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico), leaving countries such as Peru relatively in the background. The paper fills this gap by posing an original research question: How can space diplomacy become a tool for international projection and, at the same time, an accelerator of regional integration?

The underlying hypothesis is that space represents a paradigmatic case of “science diplomacy”: a field in which technological cooperation, soft power, and institutional building intersect, enabling even countries with intermediate capabilities to carve out a role in global governance.

The importance of partnerships

The study adopts a qualitative approach, reconstructing the institutional and political trajectory of Peru’s space sector and analyzing the main international cooperation initiatives.

From a historical standpoint, Peru entered the sector as early as the 1970s with the creation of the National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA) in 1974, but it is only in the past ten years that a qualitative leap has taken place. A decisive step was the launch of the PeruSAT-1 satellite in 2016, built by Airbus: a project that goes beyond the acquisition of technology and includes a structured program of knowledge transfer, with Peruvian engineers trained in France.

This model (cooperation plus technology transfer) represents one of the key elements of Peru’s space diplomacy. Alongside it, a national ecosystem has developed, including the National Center for Satellite Image Operations (CNOIS), which manages data and applications; the development of university nanosatellites (such as PUCP-Sat and Chasqui-I); and the creation of a national registry of space objects, in line with UN standards.

The real turning point, however, came in 2024 with the approval of the National Space Policy, which transforms a set of fragmented initiatives into a coherent long-term strategy, integrating research, industry, and foreign policy.

At the international level, Peru has adopted a multilevel cooperation strategy:

• with the United States, through NASA (the Artemis program and new agreements on probes);
• with China, through the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) and participation in lunar projects;
• with Europe, thanks to Copernicus and collaboration with the Italian Space Agency;
• at the regional level, through participation in the emerging Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE).

This ability to cooperate simultaneously with different geopolitical poles in a context of growing global competition represents a distinctive feature of the Peruvian case.

Three benefits already achieved

Space diplomacy can become a tool for development and international positioning for emerging countries. In Peru’s case, the space sector has already produced three tangible results.

First, it has strengthened domestic capabilities: technology transfer, human capital development, and the growth of a scientific-industrial ecosystem. Second, it has improved international positioning, allowing the country to engage with global actors while maintaining a “non-aligned” stance. Third, it has opened up concrete space for regional cooperation, particularly through ALCE.

The space economy is becoming an enabling platform for multiple sectors. Satellite applications directly affect agriculture, logistics, energy, insurance, and risk management. Moreover, the “space-as-a-service” model lowers barriers to entry, allowing SMEs and startups to participate in the value chain.

For policymakers, the Peruvian case suggests that scientific cooperation can generate “spillover” effects in other areas (economic, institutional, and political), contributing to regional integration.

Robalino Florett, O. A. (2025). “Diplomacia espacial y gobernanza global: Oportunidades y desafíos para el Perú en América Latina.” Política Internacional, (138), 84–99. https://doi.org/10.61249/pi.vi138.244.