France restricts Israeli offensive weapons at Eurosatory defence show

France has barred the display of Israeli offensive weapons at the Eurosatory international defence and security exhibition in Paris, according to organisers and Israeli officials. The decision also prevents Israeli government officials from attending the show, while some Israeli defensive systems remain authorised to take part. The restrictions affect one of Europe's major weapons exhibitions and have prompted a sharp protest from Israel's defence ministry.

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Organisers said the French government made the decision through its Defence Council. Charles Beaudouin, president of COGES Events, said only Israeli exhibitors presenting anti-ballistic and anti-air defence systems are authorised. He added that if an exhibitor is also a rocket manufacturer, those weapons will not be allowed to be displayed.

Israel's defence ministry said it would be unable to participate in the exhibition or establish a national pavilion. The Israeli defence ministry described the move as a disgraceful decision and said it reflected political and commercial calculation. It said France had imposed restrictions on companies from Israel exhibiting at the event and had barred Israeli officials from attending.

The ministry said the decision was consistent with what it called a troubling pattern in French conduct in recent years. French authorities have not publicly set out the full reasoning behind the restrictions in the material provided. The decision matters because Eurosatory is a major international defence and security exhibition, bringing together governments, manufacturers and military suppliers.

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Limiting participation by Israeli firms affects both the commercial presence of those companies and the diplomatic setting around the event. It also comes at a time when French-Israeli relations have already deteriorated, according to the material provided, amid French criticism of Israel's conduct in Gaza and Lebanon and over the war against Iran earlier this year. The row also follows an earlier French move in 2024, when Israel was barred from taking part in the Eurosatory arms exhibition over the war in Gaza.

In the current case, organisers said the French government has allowed Israeli defence systems linked to air defence and missile defence to remain eligible. That distinction suggests France is trying to separate defensive equipment from offensive weapons, although the practical line between the two has become part of the dispute. What remains unclear is whether the restrictions will be challenged further or whether France will provide a fuller public explanation.

It is also not clear how many Israeli companies are affected or whether the ban on officials will change before the exhibition opens. The immediate issue to watch is whether the dispute widens into a broader diplomatic row or remains limited to participation at the Paris show.

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