Tech Diplomacy Now: Space Becomes the Next Strategic Frontier
The Trump administration unveils an ambitious agenda to expand U.S. dominance in space through lunar exploration, commercial growth, and allied cooperation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tech Diplomacy Updates
Top News of the Week
Latest News
Technology Strategy and Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Critical Minerals
Synthetic Biology
Quantum
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Energy and Climate
Opinion and Commentary
The Last Word
Chairman Keith Krach Named CEO of Freedom 250
On December 18, President Donald J. Trump announced the launch of Freedom 250, a non-partisan organization leading the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Congratulations to our Chairman, Keith Krach, on being named the CEO of Freedom 250.
Working together with the White House Task Force 250, federal agencies, and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, Freedom 250 serves as the official public-private partnership that connects, aligns, and amplifies national and local efforts to deliver the defining presidential moments of the big year. At its heart, Freedom 250 is creating a movement uniting Americans—and friends of America—in this once-in-a-generation celebration of the triumph of the American spirit.
Visit Freedom250.org to learn more.
Advancing Trusted Technology Across the Americas
This month, the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue convened senior leaders from Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador for a regional roundtable on “Advancing Trusted Technology and Talent Across the Americas.” The discussion brought together representatives from national governments, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, Purdue University, and leading technology partners including Deloitte, Ericsson, Intel, and Zscaler.
Participants examined opportunities to strengthen secure digital infrastructure and supply chains, advance cyber and AI capabilities, and deepen cross-border collaboration. A central theme was workforce development—leveraging the Institute’s Tech Diplomacy Academy and Purdue University’s academic and industry partnerships to expand training, upskilling, and student engagement across the region.
We are grateful to our partners, including Oakwise, whose leadership and support continue to enable this important work advancing trusted technology and cooperation across the Americas.
Top News of the Week – Trump Announces “New Age of American Space Achievement”
President Donald J. Trump signed a sweeping executive order titled “Ensuring American Space Superiority,” aiming to cement U.S. leadership in space exploration, security, and commercial development. The announcement was detailed in a White House fact sheet released on December 18, 2025.
Key points:
Moon and lunar development: The order sets a goal to return American astronauts to the Moon by 2028 and to begin building initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030.
Nuclear power in space: It directs deployment of nuclear reactors both on the Moon and in orbit, including a lunar surface reactor ready by 2030.
Space security: The administration is expanding its ability to detect and counter threats to U.S. space assets and interests.
Commercial and infrastructure push: Federal efforts will focus on upgrading launch infrastructure and spurring investment in commercial space capabilities, including a transition plan to replace the International Space Station by 2030.
Policy coordination: The executive order directs federal agencies and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to coordinate on implementation, streamline procurement, and build the workforce needed to execute these goals.
International cooperation on space resources: Building on longstanding U.S. policy, the administration emphasizes working with like-minded partners through bilateral and multilateral agreements to support the safe and sustainable use of space resources.
More on Background:
Trump urges 2028 astronaut moon landing in sweeping space policy order - Reuters, December 19, 2025
Trump signs sweeping executive order aimed at ‘ensuring American space superiority’ - Space.com, December 18, 2025
US Senate confirms private astronaut, Musk ally Jared Isaacman as NASA chief - Reuters, December 17, 2025
Fact Sheet on EO - Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources - The White House, December 18, 2025
Latest News
China to fall out of Germany’s top five export destinations for first time since 2010 – Reuters, December 15, 2025
See How a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan Could Unfold – WSJ, December 6, 2025
India weighs greater phone-location surveillance; Apple, Google and Samsung protest – Reuters, December 5, 2025
X gets $140 million EU fine for breaching content rules but TikTok settles – Reuters, December 5, 2025
Chinese-linked hackers use back door for potential ‘sabotage,’ US and Canada say – Reuters, December 4, 2025
Bottlenecks in data center construction threaten Japan’s AI ambitions – Nikkei Asia, December 3, 2025
Technology Strategy and Policy
Why Germany Wants a Divorce with China – WSJ, December 14, 2025
Ensuring A National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence – White House, December 11, 2025
Pax Silica Initiative – U.S. Department of State, December 11, 2025
Trump enlists 5 allies to counter China on rare earths and tech – Politico, December 11, 2025
US bill seeks phase-out of Chinese sensors in self-driving cars, after space hack fears – Reuters, December 11, 2025
US and Chinese tech research is decoupling—ASPI’s Critical Tech Tracker – ASPI, November 26, 2025
Artificial Intelligence
Increasing Public Trust in Artificial Intelligence Through Unbiased AI Principles – U.S. Office of Management and Budget, December 11, 2025
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show – NBC News, December 11, 2025
State of AI: An Empirical 100 Trillion Token Study with OpenRouter – OpenRouter, December 2025
A Prisoner’s Dilemma in the Race to Artificial General Intelligence – RAND, December 1, 2025
Australia to establish AI safety institute – Innovation Aus, November 25, 2025
Robots and AI Are Already Remaking the Chinese Economy – WSJ, November 24, 2025
Empire of AI is wildly misleading about AI water use – The Weird Turn Pro, November 16, 2025
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Trump Administration Turning to Private Firms in Cyber Offensive – Bloomberg, December 12, 2025
Google to build subsea cables in Papua New Guinea under Australia defence treaty – Reuters, December 12, 2025
This one gadget could give China a back door into the U.S. power grid – WaPo, December 10, 2025
Critical Minerals
Korea Zinc Partners with the U.S. Department of War and U.S. Department of Commerce to Build a State-of-the-Art Critical Minerals Smelter in the United States with $6.6 Billion of Capital Expenditures Total investment of $7.4 billion including working cap– Korea Zinc, December 15, 2025
Landmark Deal Gives North America Its First Heavy Rare Earth Refinery – Yahoo Finance, December 9, 2025
How Japan Built a Rare-Earth Supply Chain Without China – NYTs, December 8, 2025
How Critical Minerals Explain Trump’s Policy – FP, December 3, 2025
Simandou: The African mine that could shake Australia and reshape China’s rise – Think China, December 2, 2025
Chinese Rare-Earth Dealers Find Ways to Dodge Beijing’s Export Restrictions – WSJ, December 1, 2025
Inside one US company’s attempt to shake China’s grip on graphite – Nikkei Asia, November 26, 2025
Synthetic Biology
How NIH-Funded Science Supports US Biopharmaceutical Innovation – IFIT, December 15, 2025
Utopian fantasy or realistic tools? Deploying synthetic biology to jump crop yields sustainably – GLP, December 15, 2025
China is winning the biotech race. Patent reform is how we catch up – Fortune, December 12, 2025
Convergence of Biotechnologies and Artificial Intelligence: Implications on Biological Security – RSIS, December 2, 2025
Quantum
Federal government funds four quantum computer developers, aiming to keep them in Canada – Globe and Mail, December 15, 2025
Quantum Computing Breakthrough Shrinks Key Device to 100x Smaller Than a Human Hair – SciTechDaily, December 13, 2025
How Quantum Computing Could Put IBM Back on Top Again – Barron’s December 10, 2025
Quantum computing reality check: What business needs to know now – MIT Sloan School, December 9, 2025
Advanced Aerospace Technology
China’s latest stealth endurance drone, CH-7, completes maiden flight – SCMP, December 15, 2025
Chinese Navy base 3D imaged to 50cm resolution in single satellite pass — US spatial intelligence firm boasts accurate high-res 3D terrain map took just 10 hours to create – Tom’s Hardware, December 7, 2025
SpaceX in Talks for $800 Billion Valuation Ahead of Potential 2026 IPO – WSJ, December 5, 2025
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Trump’s move on Nvidia and China is ‘selling out our national security,’ Elizabeth Warren says – Quartz, December 12, 2025
Intel, AMD Accused of Allowing Chips in Russian Missiles – Bloomberg, December 10, 2025
Chip Company Plotted to Send Technology to China, Ex-C.E.O. Says – NYTs, December 10, 2025
Amazon AI Chip Gambit Backed by Taiwan Supply Chain – Commonwealth Magazine, December 3, 2025
Countering China’s Challenge to American AI Leadership – CSIS, December 2, 2025
Energy and Climate
Advocate of the Global South, global provider of green tech: China has come to dominate the climate discourse – MERICS, December 12, 2025
A bolder vision for American energy: You can’t “electrify everything” without more electricity. – Slow Boring, December 8, 2025
The Race for Fusion: Will America Secure the Critical Components? – SCSP, December 4, 2025
Zach Dell Thinks He Can Solve America’s Energy Crisis – The Information, November 22, 2025
Marshaling National Power Industries to Preserve America’s Strength and Thwart China’s Bid for Global Dominance – ITIF, November 17, 2025
Opinion and Commentary
RIP American Tech Dominance: Lifting export controls on Nvidia’s second-best chip jeopardizes America’s AI advantage over China. – Roge Karma, The Atlantic, December 12, 2025
Beyond the Antichrist and the Kill Switch: The real political economy of U.S. tech statecraft and what it means for Europe – Jakob Hensing, American-German Institute, December 11, 2025
Thinking about a Comprehensive U.S. AI Strategy: The U.S. needs a unified, forward-looking AI strategy to boost national competitiveness. – Michael Mazarr and Anca Agachi, Geopolitics of AGI, December 10, 2025
I love AI. Why doesn’t everyone? – Noah Smith, Noahpinion, December 1, 2025
The Last Word
“After braving the vast unknown and discovering the new world, our forefathers did not only merely sail home — and, in some cases, never to return. They stayed, they explored, they built, they guided, and through that pioneering spirit, they imagined all of the possibilities that few dared to dream.”
— President Donald J. Trump
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader of the new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies, and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.
Solid roundup on the rare earth reshuffling happening right now. The Critical Minerals section highlights whats basically an industrial arms race, especialy the Japan/Lynas story showing how deliberate supply chain redesign can work when governments commit. I've been tracking simlar efforts in graphite and the pattern is clear: every country trying to derisk from China discovers the same bottlenecks (refining capacity, environmental regs, capital intensity). The fact that Korea Zinc is dropping $6.6B on US smelting capacity tells us this isnt just policy talk anymore.