The world’s largest defense and arms exhibition, Eurosatory, opened in Paris on Monday, showcasing the latest military technology from drones to armored vehicles to various artillery systems. However, ongoing worldwide conflicts have impacted the event, with several countries being notably absent.
For the first time, Israel has been barred from participating in the event due to its offensive in Gaza. A French district court made a ruling that bans anyone working for or representing Israeli firms from taking part in the exhibition. Despite the ongoing legal battle, the event organizer Coges, led by Charles Beaudoin, has stated they will appeal the decision as soon as possible.
Russia and Belarus are also absent from the event due to their full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Eurosatory conference is held every two years and attracts over 2,000 exhibitors from 61 countries and other entities. This includes the EU Commission, which has increased its defense industry strategy since the war in Ukraine. Initiatives such as EDIRPA and European Defense Fund aim to strengthen defense companies in Europe and have greater influence in global affairs.
Léo Péria-Péigné, an arms expert at French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), noted that war in Ukraine has led to greater involvement of European Union and European Commission in defense issues. This increased presence at Eurosatory reflects their commitment to investing more in defense and armaments in order to have greater influence in future scenarios.
