France is deploying nearly a dozen naval vessels, including its aircraft carrier strike group, to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and even, potentially, the Strait of Hormuz—in a show of defensive support for its allies amid rising Middle East tensions.
President Emmanuel Macron visited Cyprus to meet with Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides and Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, following last week’s interception of drones targeting the island, stating
When Cyprus is attacked, then Europe is attacked.
The French deployment includes eight warships, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier group, and two helicopter carriers. These assets may operate in the Strait of Hormuz to escort commercial vessels. Macron described the mission as “purely defensive” and said it would be coordinated with both European and non-European states to allow container ships and tankers to resume safe passage once the most intense phase of the conflict ends.
The European Union’s ongoing Aspides naval mission, launched in 2024 to protect shipping from Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks supporting the terrorist group Hamas, will also be reinforced. Greek PM Mitsotakis added
There are few of us participating, but here too we will need to demonstrate our European solidarity more practically.
Macron also held discussions with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the situation in Israel and Lebanon.
