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There's a new front in the transatlantic space race, and it's not about rockets or satellites. It's about who gets to sit at the table.
The White House has reportedly been making quiet calls to U.S. space companies, including SpaceX (SPCX), advising them to think twice before attending French President Emmanuel Macron's Space Summit in Paris next week. The message? Showing up could be interpreted as a thumbs-up to European Union policy positions that Washington isn't thrilled about.
According to a Politico report on Wednesday, an official from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) held a private call with SpaceX, Stoke Space, K2 Space, and Astra. The official laid out several grievances: France hadn't coordinated with Washington, had engaged in "anti-competitive practices," and had designed summit panels without enough American perspective. Oh, and there was also the matter of China's attendance, which raised eyebrows.
But here's the thing: the administration didn't actually tell anyone to stay home. An OSTP official said companies received no "marching orders" and added, "The Trump administration continues to collaborate with allies and partners in space."
Still, the message was clear enough. One industry representative told Politico that U.S. companies were left in the "awkward position of figuring out how to gracefully bow out."
The Sept. 9-10 summit is expected to draw nearly 120 foreign delegations, along with space agencies, military officials, and industry leaders, according to France's Foreign Ministry. Interestingly, officials from OSTP, NASA, State, and Commerce still plan to attend. So it's not a full diplomatic freeze, just a pointed warning to the private sector.
MarketDash reached out to SpaceX, Stoke Space, K2 Space, and Astra for comment but didn't get an immediate response.
This friction isn't happening in a vacuum. Europe is actively trying to reduce its reliance on U.S. launch infrastructure, and Macron has made independent European access to space a national priority. France has earmarked an additional €4.2 billion for military space from 2026 through 2030, and plans more than €16 billion in civil and dual-use space spending by 2030.
Reuters reported Tuesday that the European Space Agency is studying higher Ariane 6 and Vega-C launch rates as satellite demand grows. Arianespace, meanwhile, expects up to 10 Ariane 6 launches annually from 2027. That's a significant ramp-up for a rocket that's still finding its footing.
Macron has been bullish on Europe's homegrown rocket. When Ariane 6 launched 32 Amazon satellites in February, he celebrated with a bit of flair: "Amazon, your package has been delivered." That mission also marked the debut of the more powerful Ariane 64 configuration.
But let's be real: SpaceX is still lapping the field. The company completed its 100th Falcon mission of 2026 in August, and Falcon 9 recently won $1.6 billion in Space Force launch contracts. Europe may be pushing for independence, but catching up to SpaceX's cadence is a whole different challenge.
So, what's the takeaway? The White House is drawing a line in the sand, Europe is doubling down on its own capabilities, and SpaceX is just doing what it does best: launching, launching, and launching some more. The summit may go on without the big American names, but the space race itself is only getting more interesting.
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