SPACE DIPLOMACY: REDEFINING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN THE AGE OF COSMIC POLITICS

In the twenty-first century, the rapid expansion of space technologies has transformed not only scientific exploration and industrial innovation but also the very architecture of international relations. This article reinterprets the concept of space diplomacy as a distinct and evolving dimension of global governance. The study investigates how leading powers employ cooperation and rivalry strategies in outer space, examines the adequacy of existing international legal frameworks, and explores emerging geopolitical models of security and competition over extraterrestrial resources. Using a combination of historical-comparative, legal, and analytical methods, the research demonstrates that space diplomacy is no longer a futuristic notion but a core instrument shaping global power dynamics. The findings emphasize the necessity of incorporating space policy into modern theories of international relations to ensure balanced, transparent, and sustainable global cooperation.