Why did U.S. space companies pull out of Paris summit?

What the report says

The first International Space Summit opened in Paris on Wednesday, drawing nearly 120 foreign delegations, along with heads of state, scientists, astronauts and industry representatives, to discuss issues ranging from space security and regulation to commercial growth. But several major U.S. space companies did not attend after reportedly being discouraged by the U.S. administration, according to the French side and reporting cited in the article.

The companies named as withdrawing included SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space and the startup Starcloud. The article says French officials were told the cancellations followed pressure from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which allegedly warned firms that attending could be interpreted as backing European policy positions. The French space ministry described the situation as complicating cooperation with U.S. partners, while French Space Minister Philippe Baptiste publicly said America was welcome at the summit.

The absence comes amid wider competition over the future of space policy and industry leadership. The article says the European Union is preparing a Space Act to set rules for space activities, while the United States is seeking to protect its own commercial and strategic advantages. It also notes tensions around satellite communications and Europe’s push for greater autonomy, including through its IRIS² program. The reported pullout highlights how space development is increasingly shaped by geopolitics as well as business interests.