TRUST Initiative Drives Deeper Bilateral Space Collaboration

The ninth Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting, held in Bengaluru on August 5‑6, 2026, placed the Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) initiative at the centre of the agenda. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump in February 2025, TRUST seeks to translate high‑level diplomatic commitments into concrete civil and commercial space projects.

During the session, ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan and U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor underscored how TRUST provides a structured pathway for technology exchange, joint missions, and open data policies.

Co‑chairmen M. Shankaran (ISRO) and senior U.S. officials Wesly Brooks and Catherine Karika facilitated discussions on expanding cooperation beyond the successful NISAR mission, looking at future scientific payloads, lunar surface exploration, and potential human‑spaceflight collaborations.

A notable outcome was NASA’s formal invitation to ISRO to join its Moon Base program, a step that aligns with the Artemis Accords and signals a deepening of the “deep‑space partnership” envisioned by TRUST.

Both sides also pledged continued adherence to United Nations COPUOS guidelines, reinforcing a multilateral approach to peaceful and sustainable use of outer space.