--- title: "The ISS: Possibly the ‘Last Formal Diplomatic Link’ of U.S. and Russia" description: "Russia is reportedly considering withdrawing from diplomacy with the U.S. — a move that threatens the existence of the ISS." date: "2022-03-21" modified: "2022-03-21" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/russia-diplomacy-iss" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "international space station" - "Roscosmos" - "the digest" - "ukraine" --- # The ISS: Possibly the ‘Last Formal Diplomatic Link’ of U.S. and Russia ![Russia is reportedly considering withdrawing from diplomacy with the United States — a move that threatens the International Space Station's existence.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Breaking Point Russia is reportedly considering withdrawing from diplomacy with the United States. It's a move that will further instigate international tensions over the country's invasion of Ukraine, both here and beyond our atmosphere, as it may also put the future of the International Space Station right in its crosshairs. According to [reporting by *Reuters*](), Russia summoned John Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to the country, to explain that the country is seriously considering severing ties with the United States over President Joe [Biden calling Russian President Vladimir Putin]() a "war criminal." ## ISS Troubling While this certainly can only be bad news for the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Russia as the latter invades Ukraine, it also sets the stage for much less earthbound conflict as long as American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts continue to coexist on the ISS. "I have no idea what this would mean for the ISS," [*Ars Technica*'s Eric Berger]() tweeted in response to the news, "but it could remain as the last formal diplomatic link between the two nations." In response to Berger, space sustainability expert Dr. Brian Weeden noted that he thinks it's unlikely "that there will be the political appetite to partner with Russia for another 8 years," though the alternatives — continuing without the Russians or deorbiting — aren't great. **READ MORE:** [Russia tells U.S. envoy ties close to rupture after Biden's comments]() \[*Reuters*\] ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()