France and several allied nations are preparing a “defensive” operation aimed at reopening the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday as the Middle East conflict entered its second week.
Macron arrived by helicopter aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which was deployed to the Mediterranean after US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 ignited a war that has destabilized the region and raised fears of wider global repercussions.
Earlier in the day, during a visit to Cyprus, Macron said the planned mission would focus on escorting container ships and oil tankers to gradually restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz once the most intense phase of the conflict subsides.
He stressed that reopening the vital shipping route is critical for international trade and for ensuring the continued flow of oil and natural gas from the Gulf region.
Speaking alongside Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Macron explained that the operation would be a “purely defensive and supportive mission” involving both European and non-European countries.
Meanwhile, the European Union indicated on Monday that it is ready to strengthen its operations to safeguard maritime traffic in the Middle East. The bloc has been considering reinforcing its naval presence in the Red Sea following the outbreak of the broader regional conflict after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz—a key global energy corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passes—has nearly come to a standstill since the war began.
Macron’s visit to Cyprus also came after the EU member state was targeted by Iranian-made drones last week. The French president condemned the attack, declaring that an assault on Cyprus is effectively an attack on Europe as a whole.
Following the drone incident, France deployed the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean, along with a frigate and air-defense systems to strengthen the island’s security.
French officials have repeatedly emphasized that Paris’s actions in the region are strictly defensive. Speaking aboard the carrier, Macron noted that the length of the conflict would ultimately depend on the objectives pursued by the United States and Israel.
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