\n France has pushed back against criticism from the United States and Israel over military flights and arms ties, with Washington accusing Paris of blocking US planes and Israel saying it would stop buying defence equipment from France. <\/p>\n
Issued on: 01\/04\/2026 – 13:39<\/p>\n
2 min Reading time\n<\/p>\n
The office of President Emmanuel Macron<\/a>,\u00a0who is in Tokyo this week, said on Tuesday it was \u201csurprised\u201d by criticism from US President\u00a0Donald Trump<\/a>, who claimed France would not allow planes carrying military supplies to Israel cross its territory.<\/p>\n Trump wrote on social media that France<\/a> had been \u201cvery unhelpful\u201d and said it would not let \u201cplanes headed to Israel<\/a>, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory\u201d.<\/p>\n French officials said US aircraft can still cross French airspace under international rules, but must first obtain diplomatic clearance. Each flight is reviewed individually.<\/p>\n The French presidency said its position had not changed since the start of the conflict.<\/p>\n Europe confronts fragmented defence systems as pressure to rearm grows<\/a><\/p>\n Airspace under scrutiny <\/p>\n France has not imposed a blanket ban on military overflights to Israel or the Middle East<\/a>, several sources told French daily\u00a0Le Monde<\/a>.<\/p>\n The newspaper said both combat and logistical aircraft crossing French airspace must first obtain diplomatic clearance, and that each flight is assessed on a case by case basis.<\/p>\n France has also hosted US support aircraft at military bases on its territory since the conflict began, according to French officials and media reports.<\/p>\n Those aircraft include C-17s<\/a> and KC-135 Stratotankers<\/a>, which are not taking part in combat operations in Iran.<\/p>\n