A grenade is metaphorically thrown into international space relations

[Flyaway]

Words fail me. The article really speaks for itself.

The normally genteel world of international space policy turned ugly this week as several prominent US space companies—including SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, K2, and Starcloud—pulled out of a high-profile French space summit organized by the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron.

Politico first reported the diplomatic turmoil, saying that the White House “pressured” US space companies to skip Macron’s space summit in Paris next week. Since then, the companies have largely pulled out of the meeting without commenting publicly, though some US representation remains on the two-day program.

Multiple sources confirmed to Ars that an official with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, or OSTP, led the call with US space companies late last week. The call was convened in response to queries from US industry about the French meeting, which is not part of the traditional circuit of international space conferences.

https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/...ut-of-a-french-space-meeting-its-complicated/

Just going to add Blackstar’s take on things from NSF:

I find this decision baffling, and Berger's explanation is reasonable. In DC, space policy was appearing to get normalized. Fewer wild swings that didn't make much sense. And then this comes along? I mean, aerospace is something the US is good at and we have to sell. Why not let these companies go and participate. My guess is that this decision rolled down from on top. After all, POTUS just said "We could do tremendous good for ourselves by just not trading with countries." Maybe one of the underlings took that to heart and told the aerospace companies to not go to the summit.

 

[Foo Fighter]

A lot of damage being done during this administration.

I have to wonder is a sane person would do all of this.

 

[BlueAbyssal]

Words fail me. The article really speaks for itself.


https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/...ut-of-a-french-space-meeting-its-complicated/

Just going to add Blackstar’s take on things from NSF:

There’s plenty of reason not to go that doesn’t involve nefarious political motives. The EU’s proposed space act would be quite harmful to American firms (imposing significant regulatory burdens that would hamper competition), and it’s seen considerable opposition inside Europe, too. It wouldn’t take much pressure, if any, to get companies to agree.