On September 2nd, local time, US-based ‘Political News Network’ cited sources familiar with the matter, stating that the White House is pressuring several American space companies, including SpaceX under Elon Musk, to reject the invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron and voluntarily withdraw from the upcoming space summit in Paris next week.
According to the above sources, during a private phone call on August 27th, an official from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy informed American space companies such as SpaceX, Stoke Space, K2 Space, and Astra that their participation in this two-day event could be seen as tacit support for the EU's policy position.
These sources also said that White House officials complained over the phone that France did not coordinate with the United States in preparing for the summit, and accused France of having “anti-competitive behavior.” Additionally, the White House implied that the expert discussions at the summit did not include the American perspective, which could weaken efforts related to American industries. Some sources also revealed that the United States expressed “concerns” regarding China’s attendance at the summit.
Although White House officials emphasized that whether companies attend or not is ultimately up to those companies, insiders believe that the government seems to be dissuading businesses from attending. Reports indicate that this sudden pressure from the White House has left many business executives feeling confused and at a loss.
Some senior executives told the media that they were in an 'embarrassing situation', urgently considering how to 'deputy in a manner that is respectful', so as not to anger the White House, while also not wanting to easily give up this large European market.
"Europe is a significant market for US aerospace enterprises, but it's not as important as the domestic market. US aerospace enterprises are currently facing an awkward situation and need to figure out how to exit gracefully." A representative said.
In response to the questions, an official from the White House Office of Technology Policy who wished to remain anonymous explained that the purpose of this teleconference was not to issue directives, but to ensure that all parties reached a consensus. Reports indicate that although the U.S. government is concerned about this summit, officials from the White House Office of Technology Policy, the State Department, the Department of Commerce, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will still attend.
According to reports, this space summit is scheduled to take place from September 9th to 10th, with an estimated participation of over 120 countries.
According to 'Politico News Network', the US's current pressure comes at a time when relations between the US and its European allies are becoming increasingly tense due to issues such as tariffs, the deployment of US military forces in Europe, and the US-Iran conflict. It is also noteworthy that Macron has always had a close relationship with US President Trump. Macron has tried to avoid antagonizing Trump while still criticizing him.
The report also mentioned that this summit comes at a critical time for Europe as it strives to develop its own space capabilities and reduce its dependence on the United States. Emmanuel Macron announced in November 2025 the launch of a new space strategy, stating that France will allocate an additional 4.2 billion euros for space defense efforts by 2030, in order to address increasingly severe space security threats and enhance France’s and Europe’s competitiveness in the space domain.
