France is investing 717 million euros in Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat, a global competitor to the American company Starlink, owned by Elon Musk.

This was stated by French Economy Minister Eric Lombard, Euracriv reports .

As the new administration of US President Donald Trump takes an increasingly dismissive and antagonistic stance towards its European allies, efforts to strengthen the bloc’s strategic autonomy are intensifying by the day, especially in Paris.

According to Lombard, the French state share “reflects a clear intention: to position satellite communications as a strategic tool to promote digital and industrial sovereignty in France and across Europe . “

Current ownership of Eutelsat is divided between the French state, which owns 13.6%, and the United Kingdom, which owns 10.9%.

After the announced increase, France’s sovereign share should increase to 30%, while the UK’s share should decrease to around 8% .

In April, it became known that Germany has been financing Ukraine’s access to the satellite Internet network of the French company Eutelsat for some time, which is an alternative to the Starlink terminals of the company of American billionaire Elon Musk.

It was previously reported that Poland would seek alternatives to the Starlink satellite network for Ukraine if billionaire Elon Musk’s American company SpaceX turns out to be an unreliable supplier.

Author:  Halyna Yalivets Джерело: https://censor.net/n3559048

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