PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that his country is deploying the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean Sea while working to form an international alliance aimed at protecting vital shipping lanes threatened by escalating Middle East tensions.
During a national television broadcast, Macron explained that immediate action was necessary as the Straits of Hormuz have been blocked and shipping through the Suez Canal and Red Sea faces increasing dangers from the expanding regional conflict.
“We have economic interests to protect, because oil prices, gas prices and the international trade situation are being profoundly disrupted by this war,” Macron stated during his address.
The French leader revealed that his nation has already positioned a frigate near Cyprus and has intercepted hostile drones flying over allied Gulf nations. French military operations include the deployment of Rafale fighter jets among other military resources.
“We have defense agreements that bind us to Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The latter are particularly targeted, and we owe them solidarity,” Macron explained.
Macron also detailed efforts to evacuate French nationals from the region, noting that two evacuation flights were scheduled to land in Paris Tuesday night. He added that security measures have been enhanced at various locations throughout France.
While addressing responsibility for the crisis, Macron stated that Iran “bears primary responsibility” for recent U.S.-Israeli military actions, but criticized those operations, saying: “the United States of America and Israel have decided to launch military operations; they were conducted outside international law, which we cannot approve.”
