France’s aircraft carrier deployed to Mediterranean
French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to move from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean to help protect allied assets during the war in the Middle East.
Macron said that the Charles de Gaulle ship will be accompanied by frigates and an air wing.
In a pre-recorded speech on French television, Macron said Rafale fighter jets, air defense systems and airborne radar systems had been deployed in the Middle East in the last few hours.
“And we will continue this effort for as long as necessary,” Macron said.
In his statement to X, he said, “All precautions are being taken to ensure the security of our national lands, our citizens and our interests in the Middle East.”
“France is also ready to deploy the necessary resources to protect its closest partners if they request it.”
France, Britain and Germany have previously stated that they are not involved in the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran, which began late last week, but that they are ready to take defensive action to destroy Iran’s ability to fire missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
But Macron said French forces shot down the drones “in self-defense in the first hours of the conflict, to defend the airspace of our allies who know they can trust us.”
He did not explain in detail.
Explaining the need to move France’s aircraft carrier, Macron cited the attack on a British air base in Cyprus on Monday as an example, adding that Cyprus is a member of the European Union, with which France recently signed a strategic partnership.
“This requires our support,” Macron said.
Macron also said France has strong commitments to Jordan and Iraq, as well as defense agreements linking the EU country to Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Noting that the war had spread to Lebanon, Macron said that the Iran-backed militant Hezbollah group made “a big mistake by striking Israel” and endangered the Lebanese people, but warned Israel not to launch a land operation.
“This would be a dangerous escalation and a strategic mistake,” he said.
“Hezbollah must necessarily stop all attacks, and I call on Israel to respect Lebanese territory and its integrity.”
Reflecting France’s traditional support for the rules-based international order, Macron noted that France “cannot approve” Israeli and US attacks on Iran because they were carried out outside the framework of “international law”.
He said it would be “desirable” to end the attacks as soon as possible and that lasting peace in the region could only be achieved by resuming diplomatic negotiations.
“I would also like to express here the hope that the Iranian people will be able to freely determine their own destiny,” Macron added.
