France to deploy major naval force to Middle East waters as regional tensions rise

PAPHOS, Cyprus, March 9 (GeokHub) — France is preparing to deploy nearly a dozen naval vessels to waters around the Middle East, including the Mediterranean and Red Sea, as tensions escalate across the region.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the deployment will include the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and other warships as part of efforts to support allies and protect critical shipping routes affected by the ongoing conflict.

Macron made the announcement during a visit to Cyprus, where he met with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Defensive naval mission

The French leader said the military presence would remain defensive and aimed at protecting regional partners and maintaining maritime security.

“When Cyprus is attacked, Europe is attacked,” Macron said, referencing recent drone incidents near the island.

France’s deployment will include multiple naval assets operating across several strategic waterways, including the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

The French navy is also considering a potential mission near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and gas exports.

Protecting shipping routes

Macron said the objective of the deployment is to help safeguard international shipping lanes and maintain freedom of navigation during the regional crisis.

The conflict has disrupted major maritime routes and pushed global oil prices higher, raising concerns among European governments about economic and energy security.

France is also supporting a broader European naval effort aimed at protecting commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea.

European naval cooperation

The European Union’s main maritime security operation in the region is the Aspides mission, launched in 2024 to defend merchant ships from attacks linked to regional conflicts.

France currently contributes naval forces to the mission and plans to increase its participation.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for greater European involvement in protecting shipping routes, saying more countries should contribute vessels to strengthen the mission.

Possible Hormuz escort operation

Macron said France is discussing plans for a broader naval escort operation that could help reopen shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz once the most intense phase of the conflict subsides.

The operation would involve coordination with both European and international partners and could focus on escorting container ships and oil tankers through the strategically vital waterway.

Officials say such a mission would aim to stabilize maritime trade and ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels in one of the world’s most sensitive shipping corridors.