The Eurosatory defense and land security exhibition in Villepinte, north of Paris, will not feature Israel as a participant this year. The organizers of the event announced that government authorities have decided not to allow the seventy-four Israeli companies that were initially scheduled to attend.
Eurosatory is a biennial event created in 1967 and organized by Coges Events, a subsidiary of GICAT, under the Ministry of the Armed Forces. The exhibition is described as a global meeting for defense and security professionals and typically attracts around 100,000 attendees.
This year’s exhibition was set to take place from June 17 to 21, 2024, with over 2,000 exhibitors showcasing their equipment. Among them were major defense industrialists from Israel who were expected to participate. However, pressure from protestors led the organizers to exclude Israeli companies from participating in the event due to concerns about arms sales potentially being used by the Israeli army in Gaza.
The reasons for this decision were not immediately specified by the organizers or the Ministry of the Armed Forces. Despite Israel’s exclusion from Eurosatory 2024, other defense and security professionals from around the world are still expected to participate in what promises to be a significant international gathering.
In conclusion, Eurosatory is an essential platform for defense and security professionals worldwide. While there may be disagreements on certain issues such as arms sales, it is crucial that we continue working towards peace and stability through diplomatic means.
