British News Agency

The meeting held in Bangkok was significant, as it marked the first time in APSCO history that a Turkish representative assumed the Council Chairmanship. This development was regarded as a concrete indicator of Türkiye’s increasingly active role in regional and global space governance.

Türkiye has steadily risen to a position of influence within the technical, diplomatic, and academic activities carried out under APSCO. The organization promotes the peaceful use of space, capacity building, joint satellite projects, training programmes, and technical cooperation among its member states.

Thanks to TUA’s active involvement, Türkiye has become one of the leading countries in joint projects, human resource development programmes, and data-sharing mechanisms. With Yusuf Kıraç taking the role of Council Chair, Türkiye’s strategic weight within APSCO is expected to grow further, deepening multilateral satellite and ground system projects and advancing regional space capabilities through collaborative initiatives.

Kıraç also assumed the position of Vice President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), becoming the first Turkish representative to hold a leadership role within the Federation after being elected at the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney. Taken together—the APSCO Chairmanship, the IAF Vice Presidency, and Türkiye’s hosting of IAC 2026 in Antalya—these milestones illustrate the country’s comprehensive rise in diplomatic, institutional, and scientific capacity in the space sector.