Macron Propels Europe Toward Satellite Supremacy Amid Global Space Race

President Emmanuel Macron expressed France's commitment to European satellite manufacturing, emphasizing the need for competition against Starlink as he spoke at the Paris Airshow. His call marks space as the new battleground for global dominion amid geopolitical and economic pressures.

Macron urged a revitalized strategy bridging launchers to services, citing Europe's slow progress compared to the U.S. and China in the strategic space field. Factors contributing to this include stalled Soyuz rocket launches, and Europe's tangled aerospace relations with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.

Despite being a top exporter, Airbus and Thales-Leonardo's struggles call for unification to bolster competitiveness. However, Europe faces budgetary constraints against the expansive U.S. and China spendings. A notable push in defense funds could ease these fiscal limits, potentially strengthening Europe's satellite capabilities.

(With inputs from agencies.)