French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to move from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean to help protect allied assets during the war in the Middle East.
Macron said the Charles de Gaulle carrier will be escorted by frigates and its air wing. In a prerecorded speech on French TV, Macron added that Rafale fighter jets, air-defense systems and airborne radar systems have been deployed over the past few hours in the Middle East.
France, the U.K. and Germany have previously said that they weren’t involved in the strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel that began late last week, but were prepared to take defensive action to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones.
President Emmanuel Macron said in a pre-recorded speech on French TV on Tuesday that French forces had shot down drones “in legitimate self-defense in the very first hours of the conflict to defend the airspace of our allies, who know they can rely on us”. He did not elaborate.
Macron added that Rafale fighter jets, air-defence systems and airborne radar systems hadbeen deployed over the past few hours in the Middle East.
“And we will continue this effort as much as necessary,” Macron said.
In explaining the decision to move France’s aircraft carrier, Macron cited a drone that damaged the runway of a British air force base on Cyprus, noting that Cyprus was a European Union member and that France had recently signed a strategic partnership with the island nation.
“This requires our support,” he said.
The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier will be escorted by frigates and its air wing, Macron added.