The Israeli government has announced that France has banned it from participating in one of the world’s largest arms shows, Eurosatory, which will take place in June, according to Politico.
The Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement that the ban includes a ban on government officials from attending the show, a ban on opening an Israeli pavilion, the Israeli defense industry will only be allowed to exhibit air defense products, and a strict ban on displaying assault weapons at the show. As a result, the Defense Ministry will not be able to participate in the show.
A spokesman for the French Defense Ministry confirmed the ban, adding that only Israeli defense industry companies that will demonstrate air defense systems will be allowed to participate in the show.
Eurosatory, which begins on the 15th of June, is a chance for the world’s biggest arms manufacturers, including Germany’s Rheinmetall, the US’s Lockheed Martin and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, to showcase their wares, including tanks, artillery systems and missile launchers.
France’s decision is likely to deepen months of diplomatic tension between the two countries,
which culminated in September last year when Paris announced it would recognise Palestinian statehood. In March this year, Israel announced it was suspending defence procurement from France.
The French government on the 1st of June strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
This is not the first time that France, which organises some of Europe’s biggest defence events, has barred Israel from participating. In 2024, Paris banned Israel from participating in Eurosatory and Euronaval, and last year the Israelis were forced to skip the Paris Air Show. The Israeli Defense Ministry has said that the decision is a disgrace and smacks of political and commercial calculations, suggesting that France is barring Israeli companies from participating because it fears competition.
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