In a move emblematic of France’s enduring commitment to preserve its economic autonomy and protect key national assets, the French government has intervened to prevent the proposed sale of a strategic holding owned by Eutelsat. This decision, publicly confirmed by Finance Minister Roland Lescure, underscores the state’s readiness to exercise its sovereign authority whenever a transaction is judged capable of undermining the nation’s technological backbone or compromising its long-term independence in critical sectors. More than a routine administrative action, the veto reflects the profound conviction that certain assets—particularly those linked to communication infrastructure and advanced technology—carry significance that transcends mere commercial value.
By halting this foreign acquisition, France reasserts that national security extends beyond military defense into the realm of economic and technological power. Eutelsat, as a leading player in global satellite communications, holds resources that are not only commercially valuable but strategically indispensable to the country’s ability to control sensitive data flows, safeguard communication networks, and maintain secure digital sovereignty in an increasingly interconnected world. The government’s decision thus represents both an act of protectionism in the most constructive sense and a demonstration of foresight in managing globalization’s more precarious dimensions.
Minister Lescure’s invocation of state powers dedicated to protecting strategic industries highlights a delicate balance: encouraging foreign investment while ensuring that essential elements of national infrastructure remain firmly under domestic control. Recent years have seen a growing awareness across Europe that such vigilance is necessary to preserve technological leadership and autonomy. France’s intervention in the Eutelsat case fits squarely within this broader European trend toward maintaining strategic self-determination amid intensifying global competition.
Ultimately, the blockage of the sale communicates a clear message: some resources are woven into the fabric of a nation’s identity and resilience and cannot be surrendered without risk to its sovereignty. Through this decisive stance, France signals to international markets that while it remains open to cooperation and partnership, it will not compromise on core security principles or the guardianship of critical technologies that underpin both its economic strength and its national prestige.
Sourse: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-30/france-blocked-eutelsat-from-strategic-asset-sale-lescure-says
