In a move that outraged, but likely didn’t surprise, Israel, France moved to ban the Jewish state from participating fully in Eurosatory 2026, one of the largest defense expos in the world that is scheduled later this month.
France’s Foreign Ministry made the announcement Monday, preventing Israel from setting up a pavilion or sending government officials to the convention. The ministry said it would allow Israel to showcase air defense systems, but not offensive weapons.
Israel’s Defense Ministry released a statement slamming the decision.
“The French decision encompasses: a ban on government representatives attending the exhibition; a ban on opening an Israeli national pavilion; and a restriction limiting Israeli defense industries to displaying air defense products only, with offensive systems explicitly excluded.”
“This policy is applied selectively and discriminatorily relative to other participating nations — in direct violation of the established norms governing international defense exhibitions,” the ministry added.
Indeed, China and Saudi Arabia are among the nations participating. China is committing what has been officially classified by the United States as an ongoing genocide against the Uyghurs, and Saudi Arabia in 2015 conducted massive airstrikes in Yemen, many of which targeted civilian population centers.
France had also attempted to implement a ban on Israel for the 2024 expo but rescinded it. During the 2025 Paris Air Show, organizers erected black partitions around Israeli presentations of offensive weapons.
Critics find all this particularly repugnant in light of the fact that France sent a delegation of government representatives to Israel in November 2025 to learn from Israel’s military about its hard-won lessons in challenging combat environments, as well as to gain insight into Israel’s defense technology.
The ban is only the latest in France’s recent escalations against Israel, including prohibiting Israel, as well as the U.S., from using its airspace during the Iran war.
Israel responded by halting defense purchases from France and spurning France’s offer to mediate talks between Lebanon and Israel.