France to deploy nearly a dozen warships, mulls Hormuz mission, Macron says

France is planning to send nearly a dozen naval ships, including its aircraft carrier group, to the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and possibly the Strait of Hormuz. This move is aimed at providing defense for allies amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. President Emmanuel Macron spoke in Cyprus before visiting the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which arrived in the eastern Mediterranean over the weekend. He wanted to reassure Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides after drones were intercepted near the island last week. Macron stated, "When Cyprus is attacked, then Europe is attacked," following a meeting with Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos. As the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran escalates, European countries have found themselves largely sidelined. This situation has impacted Gulf Arab nations and pulled Lebanon into the conflict after Hezbollah targeted Israel. Disruptions in Middle Eastern shipping routes and rising oil prices, exceeding $100 a barrel, have prompted European nations to consider protecting their interests. Macron emphasized, "Our objective is to maintain a strictly defensive stance, standing alongside all countries attacked by Iran in its retaliation, to ensure our credibility and to contribute to regional de-escalation. Ultimately, we aim to guarantee freedom of navigation and maritime security." The European Union's key naval operations in the area include Aspides, which means "Shields" in Greek. This mission, launched in early 2024, aims to protect vessels from attacks by Houthis who support Hamas in its conflict with Israel. Mitsotakis remarked, "I will also add my voice to the rest of my European colleagues to reinforce the Aspides operation with more vessels. There are few of us participating, but we will need to demonstrate our European solidarity more practically." Macron announced that France would deploy eight warships, its aircraft carrier group, and two helicopter carriers to the region. This deployment could extend to the Strait of Hormuz to assist commercial shipping. He noted, "We are setting up a purely defensive, purely escort mission, to be prepared with both European and non-European states, enabling container ships and tankers to resume passage through the Strait of Hormuz once the most intense phase of the conflict ends," but did not provide additional details.