France: Macron hosts global leaders at Elysee Palace dinner during International Space Summit.

SHOTLIST: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPT. 9, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF GUESTS AND PRESS MEMBERS ARRIVING AT ELYSEE PALACE FOR DINNERPARIS, FRANCE - SEPT. 9, 2026: French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a dinner at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday, Sept. 9, welcoming ministers, and global space agency leaders gathered for the opening of the inaugural International Space Summit. The International Space Summit opened on Wednesday in Paris aimed at reaching common rules on space security, technology and preventing it from becoming a lawless zone. The two-day summit at the Grand Palais is bringing together around 1,100 companies operating in the space sector from 120 countries. Participants will discuss challenges facing the global space economy, space security and international cooperation on space science, technology and exploration. France hopes to rally as many countries as possible around a joint declaration promoting multilateralism and stronger management of space traffic. The summit is co-chaired by France and Germany, with sessions focusing on “solving the problems facing the global space economy,” “ensuring space security through dialogue, defense and partnerships,” and “an international approach to space science, technology and exploration: an asset for humanity’s future.” French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to address the session at its conclusion and will host a dinner at the Elysee Palace Wednesday evening for representatives of foreign delegations attending the summit. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will not attend the summit due to domestic political matters, according to the Elysee Palace. Germany will instead be represented by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Research, Technology and Space Minister Dorothee Bar. The absence of several US companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, the space company founded by US billionaire Jeff Bezos, has also drawn attention. According to Politico, a White House official told several US space companies, including SpaceX, during a phone call Aug. 27 that their participation in the Paris summit could be perceived as “implicit support” for the EU’s political positions. The official also said there had been no coordination between France and the US over the organization of the summit, and accused the French government of taking “anti-competitive” steps and expressed concerns over China’s participation. Following the call, four US companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, announced they would not attend the summit.