French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered a major show of force in the Mediterranean, dispatching France’s aircraft carrier and boosting air defences in Cyprus as the Middle East crisis deepens following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
In a televised address on Tuesday, Macron made clear that France is preparing for any spillover, even as he criticised the attacks as being outside international law and confirmed that French forces have already shot down drones in self-defence.
Macron said he had directed the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, together with its fighter jets and escort frigates, to move towards the Mediterranean to help secure the region and shield European interests from the growing conflict.
“I have ordered the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, its air assets, and its escort of frigates to set course for the Mediterranean,” he said, stressing that France stands ready to respond to the fast-changing security situation.
The deployment comes amid fears that the widening confrontation in the Middle East could reach Europe’s doorstep. A day earlier, Macron had warned that the expanding war risked spilling over into Europe’s borders.
Alongside the naval move, Macron announced new air defence deployments to Cyprus after Iranian-made drones struck the British air base at Akrotiri. He said a French frigate, the Languedoc, would head to waters off Cyprus to strengthen defensive operations.
“I have also decided to send additional air defence assets and a French frigate, the Languedoc, which will arrive off the coast of Cyprus this evening,” he said.
The sharp rise in tensions follows weekend strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, pushing the long-running standoff to a dangerous new level.
While condemning Washington and Tel Aviv for carrying out military action “outside international law, which we cannot approve of,” Macron argued that Tehran carries “primary responsibility for this situation.” He pointed to Iran’s nuclear programme, its support for armed groups across the region, and its violent crackdown on protests earlier this year as key drivers of the crisis.
Macron also revealed that French forces were already engaged in defensive operations when the conflict began. “We reacted immediately and shot down drones in self-defence to defend the airspace of our allies, who know they can count on us,” he said, referring to France’s defence agreements with Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
The combined naval and air deployments signal France’s intent to protect its partners and maintain stability as hostilities intensify, even as Paris calls out what it views as breaches of international law and urges accountability on all sides.
