France has announced a €1.35 billion ($1.55 billion) investment in the debt-laden satellite company Eutelsat, becoming the company's largest shareholder. As the French finance ministry said, the move is intended to strengthen Europe’s leading satellite to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
France chose to act now to avoid depending on "other powers" in the future, said President Emmanuel Macron and urged countries and companies as a matter of European sovereignty to invest in French satellite company Eutelsat.
"The race is on. That's why we have to take a position now and invest now. Otherwise, the whole market will be occupied and France and Europe will depend on other powers in future," Macron's office told AFP.
The 717 million-euro capital injection by the French state, which was part of an overall deal with other investors worth 1.35 billion euros, will make Paris Eutelsat's largest shareholder, raising its stake from 13 percent to just under 30 percent.
Eric Lombard, Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, stated: “The French State is proud to contribute to strengthening Eutelsat’s capital structure and support the company at pivotal stage of its development. Through this transaction, France reaffirms its determination to build, together with the company and its European partners, a competitive, resilient, and sovereign space industry, particularly around the IRIS² program, which is a key pillar of our strategic autonomy."
With its role as the largest private investor in the European Union’s IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) program, the public-private partnership aiming to build a multi-orbit constellation delivering secure communication services to the EU and its Member States, Eutelsat confirms its status as a central player in assuring Europe’s space and connectivity sovereignty.
As the only European operator with active commercial LEO (Low Earth Orbit) fleets and fully operational LEO network, Eutelsat is positioned to play a strategic role in supporting critical sectors such as military communications, cyber-resilience, and secure government connectivity, fully aligned with European Union and NATO objectives for strategic autonomy.
Earlier this week the company signed the landmark 10-year framework agreement with France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces, aimed at strengthening the integration of civilian and military assets (Nexus program), for a maximum amount of €1 billion, illustrates the strategic role of the LEO constellation in France’s model for sovereign defence and space communications.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that France and Britain are holding talks over the British government's possible participation in Eutelsat's rights issue.
An announcement could be made during Macron's scheduled state visit to the UK in early July, the source close to the matter added, speaking on condition of anonymity. Britain holds 10.9% of Eutelsat.
Other big Eutelsat shareholders, including Indian billionaire Sunil Mittal's Bharti Space, shipping company CMA CGM and Fonds Strategique de Participations, a long-term investment fund backed by French insurers, will subscribe to the capital increase, Eutelsat said on Thursday.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that nations' rights under international law “cannot be taken away through war and threats,” during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The French city of Lyon has introduced new restrictions on car traffic in its historic centre as part of a broader plan to reduce air pollution and prioritize sustainable urban living.
France will host the 2026 G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, the Alpine resort town on Lake Geneva, President Macron announced.
France has closed four major Israeli company stands at the Paris Air show for reportedly displaying offensive weapons, intensifying diplomatic tensions with Israel amid criticism of its actions in Gaza.
North Korea strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran, calling it a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security interests.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will hold an emergency Board of Governors meeting today after U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra supports the U.S. strike on Iran and calls for de-escalation and diplomacy.
China has condemned the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, warning it has undermined Washington’s credibility and risks triggering a broader regional crisis.
Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers are urging Congress to limit President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran, warning against deeper U.S. involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Germany’s federal government spent over 1.2 billion euros on software, licenses and IT services in 2024, more than 25% higher than the previous year.
Japan’s core inflation rose to a more than two-year high in May, exceeding the central bank’s 2% target for over three years and increasing pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to resume rate hikes.
Two Nigerian communities will take Shell to trial in the UK in 2027 after winning a court ruling over Niger Delta oil pollution.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced Friday it is raising its financing ceiling to a record €100 billion to accelerate investments in defence, energy security and Europe’s technological leadership.
Meta has teamed up with Oakley to release AI-powered smart glasses, expanding its push into wearable tech after the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses. The social media company is expanding its partnership with Oakley and Ray-Ban-parent EssilorLuxottica.
North Korea strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran, calling it a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security interests.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will hold an emergency Board of Governors meeting today after U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra supports the U.S. strike on Iran and calls for de-escalation and diplomacy.
China has condemned the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, warning it has undermined Washington’s credibility and risks triggering a broader regional crisis.
Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers are urging Congress to limit President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran, warning against deeper U.S. involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict.
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