SpaceX, Blue Origin and several other American space companies have pulled out of the international Space Summit that France is hosting in Paris next week, following a White House warning that attendance could be used against US interests.
Politico broke the story this week, and the exodus spread quickly. Industry sources told Defense One that Charles Powell, a White House space and spectrum official, warned companies on an August 27 conference call that summit organizers might turn them into props for policies that undercut US interests. Ars Technica confirmed the call, reporting that officials feared the gathering would advance positions on spectrum sharing and other issues that disadvantage American operators. SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, K2 Space and Astra all figured in the affair, though a few US names remain on the program.
France has pushed back. Space minister Philippe Baptiste insisted that America is welcome and that the meeting brings every major space power to the table. More than 120 countries are expected at the two-day event, which President Emmanuel Macron conceived as a forum to shape European strategy for space and security.
US policy experts called the boycott self-defeating. France announced a nearly $5B increase in military space spending last year and Germany is investing heavily too, making Europe a market American suppliers wanted to court. One insider told Defense One the decision is unfortunate for a NATO ally Washington should cooperate with more, not less. US agencies including OSTP, State, Commerce and NASA are still attending, and analysts warn European buyers may now steer procurement away from US hardware.
