From the standpoint of the development of astronomical science, the role of astrometry in the time of Hipparchus, classical meridian and fundamental astrometry, as well as in the modern so-called. postgiparkovskuyu (after the launch of the spacecraft «GIPPARKOS») era. A classification of directions in astronomy and astrometry is given depending on the range of electromagnetic waves and the main tasks of modern astrometry are formulated. The general problems of ground-based observations in the infrared range are considered, and the example of the successful satellite astrophysical project IRAS (InfraRed Astronomical Satellite), which opened the era of modern infrared astronomy in 1983, shows the advantage of space observation methods. Infrared astrometry is a modern section-direction in astrometry, one of its seven sections relating to astrometric observations in the IR range. The infrared range, occupying an intermediate position between the optical visible and radio bands, is a natural bridge for solving the problem of improving communication between the optical (HCRF) and radio (ICRF) coordinate systems. Some other problems of infrared astronomy and astrometry that can be solved with high-precision astrometric observations, as well as with the identification of infrared observations with their optical counterparts from accurate astrometric catalogs obtained from observations in the optical and radio bands, are also considered. A preliminary assessment is made of the accuracy of the provisions in the DENIS and 2MASS ground projects currently being implemented, and the reality of the four DIVA, FAME, GAIA and SIM space projects planned for the next decade is being assessed and evaluated.