WASHINGTON, Sept 3 - U.S. officials pressed American space companies to think twice about taking part in an international space summit in Paris, according to people familiar with the discussions. The intervention, centered on a call from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) held about a week ago, led to a reshuffling of company attendance and the abandonment of some planned announcements at the event, which is scheduled for Sept. 9 to 10.
Sources said the OSTP call involved several U.S. space firms that had been preparing to travel to Paris. The officials warned that company attendance could be perceived as signaling support for European policy positions with which the United States disagrees, four sources told reporters. Those on the call stopped short of issuing a direct prohibition on attendance, the sources added, but made strong suggestions that companies refrain from participating.
The summit, billed as an "International Space Summit," will include remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and has been framed by French organisers as an opportunity to open dialogue among heads of state, decision makers and industrial and scientific groups from roughly 120 countries. European space officials have said the gathering is intended to discuss various declarations of intent and is not designed as a forum to make policy or budget decisions.
Industry effects were swift: one source said announcements that had been planned for release at the Paris summit by European and U.S. companies were cancelled. Another source specifically said SpaceX will no longer attend the event.
An OSTP official responded to questions by saying: "The Trump Administration continues to collaborate with allies and partners in space. We look forward to productive conversations at the Space Summit on key priorities including science missions, exploration programs, and space security."
European governments attending the summit are increasingly investing in both civil and military space capabilities, and officials have said they are seeking to reduce reliance on U.S. firms for satellite communications and launch services. That dynamic was cited by U.S. officials during the call as part of the rationale for urging companies to weigh potential political interpretations of their participation.
French President Macron's office did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the reported U.S. interventions and the resulting changes in companies' attendance plans.
Context and immediate consequences
- OSTP hosted a call with several U.S. space companies roughly one week before the Paris summit.
- White House officials cautioned that company attendance could be construed as endorsing certain European policy positions, and they advised against participation without formally ordering it.
- Some scheduled announcements tied to the summit were cancelled, and SpaceX is reported to have withdrawn its planned attendance.
The developments underscore friction between U.S. executive branch messaging and European initiatives in space policy, while also affecting commercial plans prepared for a high-visibility diplomatic event.