White House pressures US space firms to skip Paris space summit, sources say

WASHINGTON, Sept 3 - U.S. space firms were urged by the Trump administration not to participate in the prestigious Paris space summit, according to sources familiar with the situation. The White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy convened a call with several companies planning to attend the September 9 to 10 event, suggesting their presence could imply support for European policy stances the U.S. holds differently, four sources revealed.

The summit will see addresses from French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as European nations boost investments in civil and military space initiatives and decrease dependence on U.S. entities such as SpaceX for satellite communication and rocket launches. Some announcements intended for release at the summit between American and European firms have been cancelled, one source noted.

SpaceX will no longer participate, according to another source. An OSTP official stated, "The Trump Administration continues to collaborate with allies and partners in space," anticipating constructive discussions on science missions, exploration programs, and space security at the summit. France sees the International Space Summit as a platform for dialogue among heads of state, decision makers, and industrial or scientific groups from around 120 countries, though it is not intended for policy or budget decisions. Macron's office declined to comment on the matter.