French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday ordered France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to maneuver from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean to assist protect allied assets through the ongoing war within the Middle East.
Macron said the Charles de Gaulle shall be escorted by its air wing, and its escorting frigates.
In a pre-recorded speech aired on French TV, Macron added that Rafale fighter jets, air-defense systems, and airborne radar systems have been deployed over the past few hours within the Middle East.
“And we are going to proceed this effort as much as crucial,” Macron said.
He cited Monday’s strike on a British air force base on Cyprus, adding that Cyprus was a member of the European Union with which France has recently signed a strategic partnership.
“This requires our support. That’s the reason I even have decided to send additional air-defense assets there as well, together with a French frigate, the Languedoc, which can arrive off the coast of Cyprus later this evening,” Macron said.
France, the U.K. and Germany have previously said that they weren’t involved within the strikes on Iran, but were prepared to enable crucial and proportionate defensive motion to destroy Iran’s capability to fireplace missiles and drones.
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Macron said France has defense agreements binding the EU nation to Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to strong commitments to Jordan and Iraq.
Noting that the war had spread to Lebanon, Macron said the Iran-backed militant Hezbollah group made “the grave mistake of striking Israel” and putting the Lebanese people at risk but warned against Israel launching a ground operation.
UK, FRANCE, GREECE SEND WARSHIPS
France communicated its plan to send additional military assets to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides early on Tuesday, Cypriot government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said.
Britain said it could deploy the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon and two Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles to strengthen defenses within the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Ministry of Defence said the destroyer – fitted with the Sea Viper missile system – would enhance Britain’s ability to detect, track and destroy aerial threats, including drones.
It said the deployment followed British forces shooting down multiple drones within the region over the past 24 hours, including RAF F-35B jets engaging Iranian drones over Jordan for the primary time.
Greece sent 4 F-16 fighter jets and two frigates, including one carrying the Centauros anti-drone jamming system used previously against Houthi attacks off Yemen. Centauros can detect and incapacitate low-flying drones, even those hugging terrain or skimming the ocean surface.
“Greece is present, and can proceed to be present to help in any way within the defense of the Republic of Cyprus,” Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said during a visit to Nicosia.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X that London was “fully committed to the safety of Cyprus and British personnel based there,” adding that he had spoken with Christodoulides in regards to the move.
In Paris, the French armed forces said they were monitoring developments and acting in coordination with regional partners under existing defense agreements.
—With additional files from Reuters
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