France is deploying nearly a dozen naval vessels to the Mediterranean and Red Sea and may expand operations to the Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate in the Middle East, President Emmanuel Macron said Monday, March 9.
Speaking in Cyprus ahead of a visit to the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which arrived in the eastern Mediterranean over the weekend, Macron said the deployment was intended to support allies threatened by the conflict in the region, Reuters reported.
“When Cyprus is attacked, then Europe is attacked,” Macron said after meeting Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos.
Macron said France would deploy eight warships along with its aircraft carrier strike group and two helicopter carriers to the region.
He added that Paris was also considering a naval escort mission in the Strait of Hormuz aimed at protecting commercial shipping and ensuring maritime security.
“Our objective is to maintain a strictly defensive stance, standing alongside all countries attacked by Iran in its retaliation,” Macron said.
The escalation comes as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran spreads across the region, threatening key maritime routes and pushing global oil prices above $100 per barrel.
The European Union already operates a naval mission in the Red Sea known as Aspides, launched in 2024 to protect commercial vessels from attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi militants.
Macron said France would reinforce the mission by deploying additional vessels and coordinating with European and international partners to safeguard shipping lanes.