France has officially prohibited Israel from participating in Eurosatory, one of the world’s largest defense exhibitions, set to commence this month. This decision was announced by the Israeli Ministry of Defense on Monday.
The Israeli defense authority outlined the implications of the French government’s decision, which includes:
- a ban on the participation of Israeli government representatives at the exhibition;
- a prohibition on establishing a national Israeli pavilion;
- restrictions on Israeli defense companies, allowing them to showcase only air defense systems, while offensive weaponry is banned.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense stated, “As a result, Israel will not be able to participate in the exhibition or create a national pavilion.”
The French government has not yet commented on this development.
Eurosatory is scheduled to open on June 15 in Villepinte, near Paris. The event typically attracts major global arms manufacturers, including Germany’s Rheinmetall, America’s Lockheed Martin, and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace. The exhibition features tanks, artillery systems, missile complexes, and various military technologies.
This decision by Paris is likely to further escalate the ongoing diplomatic tensions between France and Israel, which have intensified in recent months. The conflict reached a peak last September when France recognized the state of Palestine.
In March, Israel announced a complete halt to its procurement of defense products from France.
France's decision to bar Israel from the Eurosatory defense exhibition reflects escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. This move follows France's recognition of Palestine and Israel's subsequent suspension of defense purchases from France.