The Hill has suggested that US President-elect Donald Trump could use space cooperation as part of a strategy to reach an agreement with Russia to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The article notes that a proposal such as Russia's participation in the US Artemis program could be a key factor in accelerating negotiations.
"Trump could sweeten the deal by making Putin an offer he can't refuse. Russia's participation in the Artemis program would be a major step that would create the basis for long-term cooperation in space," — writes the author of the material.
The Artemis program is an ambitious NASA project aimed at returning humans to the Moon and further exploration of Mars. Russia's participation in this project, according to analysts, would not only strengthen its position in the space race, but also provide access to advanced technologies and equipment, including developments by SpaceX.
According to the article, the proposal could include the supply of technology and equipment for the Russian space industry, which has faced a number of difficulties in recent years. Such cooperation could not only stimulate scientific and technological progress, but also become the basis for restoring trust between the countries.
Experts say that using the space industry as a diplomatic tool is nothing new. During the height of the Cold War, space cooperation between the US and the USSR was an important step in reducing tensions. However, implementing such a scenario today is fraught with many difficulties.
First of all, analysts note, this is due to the political situation: the strengthening of sanctions against Russia by the US and the EU complicates any negotiations. In addition, Russia's participation in the Artemis program may cause discontent among Washington's allies, who actively support the sanctions policy.