PARIS: France said on Wednesday that its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was heading towards the southern Red Sea to prepare for a possible mission aimed at restoring maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The deployment is intended to send “a signal that not only are we ready to secure the Strait of Hormuz but that we are also capable of doing so”, an aide to French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters.
Shipping activity through the strategic waterway — which normally handles nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil transit — has nearly come to a halt since conflict escalated in the Middle East in late February.
Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are leading an international initiative aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the mission would be defensive in nature and would only be deployed after the conflict ends.
Macron said on X that he had spoken to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday to express his “deep concern” over rising tensions in the Gulf as peace negotiations remain stalled.
“All parties must lift the blockade of the strait, without delay and without conditions,” Macron said, referring to the US blockade of Iranian ports and Iran’s restrictions in the key maritime corridor.
France’s defence ministry said the Charles de Gaulle and its escort vessels were currently crossing the Suez Canal on their way to the southern Red Sea.
The ministry added that the deployment would “reduce the time needed to implement this initiative as soon as circumstances allow”.
Multinational planning underway
More than 40 countries have reportedly begun military planning for the proposed Hormuz mission following discussions hosted by Britain.
A French presidential aide said Paris was acting because “the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues, the damage to the global economy is becoming increasingly severe, and the risk of prolonged hostilities is too serious for us to accept”.
France has also proposed to both the United States and Iran that the Strait of Hormuz issue be addressed separately from the broader regional conflict.
“It is in the common interest,” the aide said.
“We can offer Iran the chance to pass through the Strait of Hormuz again,” provided Tehran agrees to participate in negotiations with Washington, the official added.
The aide further said the United States should “lift their blockade of Hormuz and take advantage of Iran’s willingness to negotiate on key issues”.
According to French officials, if both sides agree, the coalition would deploy naval resources to protect vessels in the strait and “help restore the confidence needed to calm the markets”.
The Charles de Gaulle is carrying around 20 Rafale fighter jets and is accompanied by several frigates.
The carrier departed from the French port city of Toulon in January for a North Atlantic deployment but was redirected to the eastern Mediterranean in March following Iranian retaliation against Israeli-American strikes.
