Israel announced it will halt all defense procurement from France on March 31, after French authorities denied airspace transit for Israeli aircraft transporting U.S. military supplies to the war in Iran. Western diplomat sources told Reuters the refusal occurred over the weekend and was the first of its kind since the conflict began.
Israeli Ministry of Defense Director General Maj. Gen. Amir Baram announced the halt on Channel 12 News. “Israel will reduce all defense procurement from France to zero, replacing it with domestic Israeli procurement or purchases from allied countries,” the ministry confirmed in a statement.
BREAKING:
Israel ends all defense deals with France
The Israeli Ministry of Defense has suspended all defense procurement from France and terminated existing contracts.
This decision follows Paris’s refusal to allow U.S. aircraft carrying military supplies for Israel to… pic.twitter.com/FimF4khziP
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 31, 2026
The ministry also informed France’s armed forces minister that “we do not intend to hold a meeting with her, and that there will be no new professional engagement with the French military.”
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social the same day. “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory,” Trump wrote. “France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”
🚨 NOBODY KNOWS HOW FUCKED NATO ACTUALLY IS RIGHT NOW.
In the last 72 hours, watch who walked away:
🇫🇷 France: Blocked US military overflight for weapons to Israel — FIRST TIME since war began Feb 28. Israel cut ALL defense procurement from France.
🇮🇹 Italy: Denied Sigonella…
— 🇺🇸 Ronald Carter (@USronaldcarter) April 1, 2026
The Elysée Palace said Paris was “surprised” by the criticism. French officials confirmed to Le Monde that no blanket ban on military overflights exists. Each request requires individual diplomatic clearance. U.S. C-17 transport aircraft and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft have continued operating from French military bases in non-combat roles.
The airspace refusal was the breaking point in a deterioration spanning two years.
🚨🇮🇱🇫🇷 Israel has decided to halt all security procurement from France, an Israeli official told @Jerusalem_Post.
The decision to stop the purchases was made under the directive of Defense Minister Israel Katz and Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram. Apart from existing…
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) March 31, 2026
France recognized Palestinian statehood in 2025 and in June of that year shuttered the exhibition stands of Elbit Systems, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at the Paris Air Show after the firms refused to remove offensive weapons from display.
A French parliamentary report showed dual-use export licences to Israel fell to €76.5 million in 2024, a 60% drop from 2023.
The practical impact of the procurement halt is expected to be limited, as France and Israel compete across the same global arms market.
Italy and Spain also restricted U.S. military access during the same period, with Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles stating the restrictions “were made clear to the American military from the very beginning.”
Speaking in Tokyo on April 1, Macron told Japanese business leaders: “Predictability has value. We are where you know we will go.”
