Amazon lends boost to Europe's Ariane at Paris space gathering

PARIS, September 9 - The Amazon Leo satellite network has placed an order for six more launches on Europe's Ariane 6 rocket, the operator Arianespace announced on Wednesday, presenting a significant boost for Europe's flagship rocket program. French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the agreement at the opening of a two-day space summit, which drew a notable absence of top U.S. space companies, including Blue Origin, the launch platform owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, due to what sources described as White House pressure on the summit's Europe-centered agenda.

France is striving to garner broader European backing for crucial strategic initiatives during the Paris gathering, with a particular emphasis on securing German support for Ariane 6 and the European Union's planned IRIS² satellite constellation. This decisive victory for Ariane might encourage production of the rocket after a series of development delays, potentially allaying German concerns about its timeline, according to experts.

French Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who faced mounting domestic political pressure and a demanding schedule, withdrew from the summit prior to its commencement, leaving behind a palpable sense of absences that underscored lingering disagreements regarding space policy. French analyst Peter de Selding lamented the absence of the country's closest ally, stating, "It's really unfortunate that Merz isn't here."

France seeks assurances that European government satellites will utilize European rockets, considering this a matter of sovereignty. Germany, however, which is investing $35 billion in military space and remains reluctant to relinquish access to U.S. SpaceX, weighs this against security considerations, particularly in light of recent events such as the discovery of an armed drone attributed by Berlin to Moscow.

Franco-German differences and a lower-than-expected attendance dampened the first day of the summit, dominated by coordinated business announcements. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is slated to address the event on Thursday.