‘We have economic interests to protect’ says Macron as France sends aircraft carrier to Mediterranean
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The Charles de Gaulle is a French aircraft carrier.
PHOTO: AFP
PARIS - President Emmanuel Macron on March 3 said France was sending its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean and working to build a coalition that would help secure maritime traffic imperiled by the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
In a televised address to the nation, he said that action needed to be taken with the Straits of Hormuz closed and the Suez Canal and Red Sea shipping routes threatened by the widening conflict.
“We have economic interests to protect, because oil prices, gas prices and the international trade situation are being profoundly disrupted by this war,” he said.
He said France had also sent a frigate to Cyprus
Rafale jets were among the assets being used.
“We have defence agreements that bind us to Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The latter are particularly targeted, and we owe them solidarity,” he said.
He said France was helping its citizens who wanted to leave the region get out and that two flights were due to arrive in Paris on the evening of March 3. Security had also been reinforced at some sites in France, he added.
Mr Macron said Iran itself “bears primary responsibility” for the US-Israeli action, but added that “the United States of America and Israel have decided to launch military operations; they were conducted outside international law, which we cannot approve”. REUTERS
