When the 98-metre Artemis II space rocket, taller than the Statue of Liberty, blazed a trail of fire as it took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida this week – the same departure site as the famous Apollo missions – it was a potent reminder of America’s enduring exceptionalism and the strength of its relationships even amid geopolitical headwinds .
The US is a country whose modern identity was partly forged by the space race of the 20th century. Although the Soviet Union launched the first human into orbit, it was the Stars and Stripes that was eventually planted on the Moon in 1969.
Fast forward to 2026, and the US remains one of the few countries with the resources, technical experience and sheer ambition to send four astronauts back to Earth’s nearest neighbour, five decades after Neil Armstrong’s famous “giant leap for mankind”.
Importantly, although Artemis II highlights America’s leading role in space exploration, the mission is underpinned by international partnerships. Nasa administrator Jared Issacman took time at a news conference this week to thank “international allies” for playing their part in sending astronauts back to the Moon “after a brief, 54-year intermission”. The fact that one of the four crew is a Canadian astronaut highlights Artemis’s international character.
Thursday morning’s launch took place as the US’s terrestrial ties with many of its long-time allies look increasingly strained. The so-called America First doctrine, a form of exceptionalism too strident for many of Washington’s traditional allies, has led to the public castigation of Nato members, European partners and other nations deemed to be lagging behind US attempts to reshape the world. And yet the stated aim of the US is not to act alone but for more of its partners to burden share.
Multinational co-operation is being championed once more with the idea of a coalition that could secure the vital Strait of Hormuz, not with unilateral action but with wide international support. Washington has not said it would participate in such an operation, but it has called on others to do so. On March 21, the UAE issued a joint statement with 21 other countries, including France, the UK, South Korea and Australia, condemning Iranian attacks on Gulf shipping and expressing its readiness to “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait”.
Even if such a coalition were to take shape without direct American involvement, the Gulf’s relationships with Washington will undoubtedly remain strong. They are deeply rooted in security, diplomatic and economic ties going back decades. Thousands of Americans continue to live and work in the UAE and other Gulf countries. However, the spectacular launch of Artemis II shows once more that when American leadership serves as a ballast for international co-operation, the sky is – quite literally – the limit.
