France has blocked official Israeli participation in the 2026 Eurosatory international defense and security exhibition, set to open in Paris later this month. The French Defence Council made the decision, which bars Israeli government representatives from attending and prevents Israel from setting up a national pavilion at the event.
The organizer of the exhibition, Charles Beaudouin, president of COGES Events, confirmed the move on Monday. He said only Israeli companies showing anti-ballistic and air defense systems would be allowed to exhibit. Rocket manufacturers and companies making offensive weapons would not be permitted to display those products.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense said the French government formally notified it of the ban. As a result, Israel will not be able to attend the exhibition or open a national pavilion at the Paris event.
The restrictions on Israeli defense companies mean they cannot present offensive weapons at the show. Only air-defense-related products will be permitted under the French guidelines.
Israel's defense ministry rejected the decision in strong terms. It called the move a "disgraceful decision" that reflected "political and commercial calculation" and said the ban came as no surprise given what it described as a troubling pattern in French conduct in recent years.
Israel said the restrictions were discriminatory and unfairly applied compared to other countries, adding that the decision runs counter to accepted norms for international defense exhibitions.
This is not the first time France has taken such a step. Two years ago, France barred official Israeli Ministry of Defense representatives from setting up a national pavilion at the same exhibition. Last year, access to Israeli company pavilions at the Paris Air Show was also blocked at the last minute.
Dozens of Israeli companies had planned to exhibit at this year's Eurosatory. Their participation is not entirely prohibited, and some may proceed by displaying non-offensive systems. However, there will be no official pavilion from Israel's defense export body, SIBAT, or any other Israeli state entity.
Eurosatory is scheduled to run from June 15 to 19 at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center, north of the capital.
The decision comes as France-Israel relations have grown more strained. Paris has repeatedly condemned Israeli military operations in Lebanon since late February. On Sunday, France called an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council after Israeli forces seized the Beaufort Castle, a historic landmark in Lebanon, and raised the Israeli flag over it.
Israel's defense industry has faced growing uncertainty across Europe in recent months as governments reassess military cooperation in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and wider regional tensions.
Eurosatory is one of the largest defense exhibitions in the world. It draws military technology companies, government delegations, and procurement officials from across the globe. The 2024 edition saw France take a similar stance toward Israeli exhibitors, drawing significant diplomatic attention at the time.
The French government has not issued a separate public statement beyond what the exhibition organizers confirmed. No date has been given for any formal diplomatic response from Israel through official bilateral channels.