Paris orders Charles de Gaulle strike group to reinforce regional defenses and protect maritime trade routes.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
French President Emmanuel Macron announced March 3 that France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, has departed for the Eastern Mediterranean to reinforce French defensive operations amid escalating missile and drone attacks linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In a pre-recorded address aired on French television, Macron said the carrier strike group, accompanied by its embarked air wing and frigate escorts, will support French assets already positioned in the Middle East.
Macron stated that the mission’s primary objective is to defend French military installations and diplomatic facilities in the region as widespread, nondiscriminatory missile and drone strikes continue.
France currently has Rafale fighter jets deployed at the Al-Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi, along with airborne radar systems and air defense assets. Macron said the carrier would integrate into these existing defensive operations.
The president disclosed that two French military bases in the region had sustained limited strikes and that measures were underway to strengthen security at French bases and embassies.
In addition to the carrier deployment, the French frigate French frigate Languedoc was scheduled to arrive off the coast of Cyprus on the evening of March 3. Macron noted that Cyprus, a member of the European Union and a strategic partner of France, has faced attacks and remains within range of regional hostilities.
Macron also referenced France’s defense agreements and commitments with partners in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, and Kurdish allies.
He said France is prepared to contribute to broader efforts to secure key maritime corridors stretching from the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Suez Canal, as Iran has threatened to disrupt traffic through the Hormuz chokepoint.
“We are now building a coalition to bring together means, including military means, to make these maritime trade routes secure,” Macron said in the televised address.
The president confirmed that approximately 400,000 French nationals are currently in the Middle East, either residing there or traveling. He said repatriation operations are underway for those wishing to return to France, with initial flights expected to arrive that evening.
While reinforcing defensive deployments, Macron reiterated his opposition to the United States and Israel launching strikes on Iran, stating that he believes the actions fall outside international law. He also expressed concern regarding Israel’s potential ground campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
However, Macron offered no support for Iran’s leadership, referencing its handling of domestic unrest earlier this year.
“History never will shed tears over those who massacre their own people,” Macron said regarding Iran’s eliminated leadership. “They will not be missed.”
The deployment of the Charles de Gaulle marks one of France’s most significant military movements in the region since the current conflict escalated, signaling Paris’ intent to protect its interests while navigating an increasingly volatile security landscape.
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