Vietnam Prioritizes Israeli Defense Firms Despite French Ban at Eurosatory Expo
French President Emmanuel Macron has recently positioned himself as one of the more anti-Israel European leaders, notably by excluding Israeli companies from the Eurosatory defense exhibition last month. This move, revealed by Globes, included a ban on official Israeli participation and prevented Israeli firms from showcasing offensive weapons. The French government’s actions followed a 2022 ban on Israeli companies at Eurosatory, which was later overturned by a Paris court citing commercial discrimination, but only after significant damage had been done.
Despite the French restrictions, a senior Vietnamese delegation led by Nguyen Truong Thang attended the exhibition and showed limited interest in European companies like Airbus and UNAC. Instead, they devoted considerable attention to Israeli defense firms, both those exhibiting and those barred from the event, recognizing their established reputation in the global defense industry.
The number of Israeli companies at Eurosatory dropped from 74 two years ago to fewer than 40 this year, contrasting with a global increase to about 2,600 exhibitors. Some Israeli companies, including Aeronautics, Orbit, Marom Dolphin, and Smart Shooter, were instructed to close their booths. Aeronautics, ranked 26th globally in drone manufacturing, produces various UAVs such as the Dominator MALE drone and the OctoPro heavy drone.
Vietnam’s interest in Israeli defense technology is part of a broader trend in Asia-Pacific, where Israeli defense exports surged to $19.2 billion last year, with Asia-Pacific’s share rising from 23% to 32%. Vietnam has deepened military cooperation with Israel, especially amid increasing Western embargoes, and recently signed an exclusivity agreement with Israeli company MODEL 4 for advanced manufacturing and electronic components. The U.S. is a significant customer of Vietnam, which helps facilitate Israeli exports that meet Western quality standards.
Vietnam is also a direct defense customer, purchasing tank upgrades from Elbit Systems and Spike missiles from Rafael. In February, Vietnam’s Ministry of Defense signed a $250 million deal with Rafael for the Firefly loitering munition, used by the IDF, including local production arrangements. This growing partnership underscores Vietnam’s strategic interest in Israeli defense capabilities despite French efforts to limit Israeli presence at Eurosatory.
