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International Cooperation

This page summarizes U.S. efforts related to GPS cooperation with other countries and international organizations.

The U.S. Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Policy encourages international cooperation related to GPS and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). It directs the United States to:

“Engage with international GNSS providers to ensure compatibility, encourage interoperability with likeminded nations, promote transparency in civil service provision, and enable market access for United States industry.” 

In addition, the National Space Policy states that the United States shall "Allow for the continued use of allied and other trusted international PNT services in conjunction with GPS in a manner that ensures the resilience of PNT services and is consistent with applicable law."

Some links below lead to external websites that the U.S. government does not control.

The United States and Australia initiated a cooperative relationship on GPS and GPS augmentations through a Joint Delegation Statement signed in 2007. The cooperation expands upon existing efforts to ensure interoperability between GPS and Australia's Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS).

Major Documents

In 2010, the United States and China concluded technical coordination discussions on radio frequency compatibility between China's BeiDou System (BDS) and GPS. These discussions, held at the operator-to-operator level since 2007, occurred under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

In 2014, the United States and China began bilateral consultations on civil cooperation concerning GPS and BDS.

Major Documents

The United States and the European Union and its member states have been close partners in the area of satellite navigation since 2004, when the parties signed a historic agreement establishing cooperation between GPS and Europe's Galileo system. The cooperation aims to ensure that GPS and Galileo are interoperable at the user level for the benefit of civil users around the world. The cooperation is also intended to maintain fair trade in the global satellite navigation market.

The GPS-Galileo Agreement established working groups for cooperation on:

  • Radio frequency compatibility and interoperability
  • Trade and civil applications
  • Design and development of the next generation of systems

Major Documents

The United States and India issued a Joint Statement in 2007 establishing cooperation on GPS and GPS augmentations. The cooperation expands upon existing efforts to ensure interoperability between GPS and India's GPS And GEO-Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system.

Major Documents

The United States and Japan have enjoyed a successful relationship on satellite navigation since 1998, when the heads of both nations signed a Joint Statement establishing cooperation in the use of GPS. Through this relationship, the two nations have achieved interoperability between GPS and Japan's MTSAT-based Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), a geostationary satellite similar to the U.S. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The nations have also taken steps to ensure interoperability between the next-generation GPS constellation and Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), a regional satellite constellation designed to complement GPS over East Asia.

Major Documents

The United States and the Republic of Korea issued a joint statement in 2021 announcing cooperation on matters of mutual interest related to GPS and the Korean Positioning System (KPS). The cooperation expands upon existing discussions on matters of compatibility, interoperability and transparency related to civil satellite navigation.

Major Documents

The United States and Russia initiated cooperation in 2004, with the primary goal of enabling civil interoperability at the user level between GPS and Russia's GLONASS system.

As of April 2014, all U.S.-Russia cooperation in this area is on hold.

Major Documents

The governments of the United States and the United Kingdom (UK) hold bilateral discussions on GNSS-related matters when needed. The UK previously participated in the U.S.-EU cooperation on GPS and Galileo.

Major Documents

The United States is a charter member of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG), established in 2005 through the U.N. Office of Outer Space Affairs. The ICG promotes worldwide applications of satellite navigation technology, particularly in developing nations. The United States is a key member of the ICG Providers Forum, a venue for multilateral interaction among the world's providers of satellite navigation services.

Major Documents

Beyond the ICG, the United States works on international satellite navigation issues through other multilateral bodies, including

Major Documents: