STORY: France is deploying about a dozen naval vessels, including its aircraft carrier strike group, to the Mediterranean, Red Sea and potentially the Strait of Hormuz as part of defensive support to allies threatened by the conflict in the Middle East.

Speaking in Cyprus before visiting the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which arrived this weekend in the eastern Mediterranean, President Emmanuel Macron sought to reassure his Cypriot counterpart after drones were intercepted heading towards the island last week.

"When Cyprus is attacked, then Europe is attacked," Macron said after meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos.

European states have been largely sidelined as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has escalated, hitting Gulf Arab states and dragging Lebanon into the line of fire after Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel.

But with shipping lanes in the Middle East impacted and the price of oil heading well above $100 a barrel, European powers are grappling with the issue of how to defend their interests.

"What we want to do is ensure freedom of navigation and maritime security -- in the eastern Mediterranean, in the Red Sea, from Suez (Canal) to Bab el-Mandeb (Strait)," Macron said.

The European Union's main naval activities in the region centre on Aspides - Shields in Greek - a Red Sea naval mission launched in early 2024 to guard vessels from attack by Iranian-aligned Houthi militants backing Palestinian militant group Hamas in its war with Israel.

Macron, whose navy already provides one warship to that mission, said there would be two in total, but that in all France would deploy eight warships, the aircraft carrier group and two helicopter carriers to the region.

That could ultimately include the Strait of Hormuz to support commercial vessels, Macron said

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

France to deploy almost dozen warships, mulls Hormuz mission, Macron says

VIDEO SHOWS: FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, CYPRUS PRESIDENT NIKOS CHRISTODOULIDES AND GREEK PRIME MINISTER KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS GIVING STATEMENT, SPEAKING OF SOLIDARITY/ MACRON SAYING FRANCE WILL SEND TWO WAR SHIPS TO RED SEA

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PAPHOS, CYPRUS (MARCH 9, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

1. FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, CYPRUS PRESIDENT NIKOS CHRISTODOULIDES AND GREEK PRIME MINISTER KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS TALKING IN HANGAR

2. MACRON, CHRISTODOULIDES AND MITSOTAKIS WALKING UP PLATFORM

3. MACRON, CHRISTODOULIDES AND MITSOTAKIS BEHIND PODIUMS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON SAYING:

“When Cyprus is attacked, then Europe is attacked.”

5. LEADERS AT PODIUMS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON SAYING:

“We are bound to each other by strategic partnerships and the deployments that have taken place in recent days, our presence side by side today, speaks to the strength and robustness of these partnerships, and that your fellow citizens can truly count on this, and know that behind these signed agreements there is solidarity between nations and their military commitment.”

7. MITSOTAKIS LISTENING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON SAYING:

“Finally, what we want to do is ensure freedom of navigation and maritime security -- in the eastern Mediterranean where we are right now, in the Red Sea, from Suez (Canal) to Bab el-Mandeb (Strait), specifically within the framework of Aspides, a coalition that already exists, headquartered in Greece and currently coordinated by Greece. France will contribute over the long term with two frigates dedicated to this effort.”

9. CAMERAMEN FILMING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON SAYING:

“We are in the process of setting up -- and we talked about this a little while ago -- a purely defensive, purely escort mission, which must be prepared together with both European and non-European states, and whose purpose is to enable, as soon as possible after the most intense phase of the conflict has ended, the escort of container ships and tankers to gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is essential to international trade, but also to the circulation of gas and oil which must be able to be transported out of this region again.”

11. MEMBERS OF MILITARY LISTENING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON SAYING:

“And I was hoping that we could mobilise close coordination at the G7 level to manage energy issues the best way, and discuss the initiatives we are taking. I also hope that we will contribute to the de-escalation, which is essential.”

13. LEADERS AT PODIUMS

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) CYPRUS PRESIDENT NIKOS CHRISTODOULIDES SAYING:

"Apart from the symbolism your presence has here in Paphos, it has a substantive importance for Cyprus, for all of Europe, our common home, the European Union."

15. MACRON LISTENING

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) CYPRUS PRESIDENT NIKOS CHRISTODOULIDES SAYING:

“Greece, France, Spain and Italy show with determination what European solidarity means in practice. With their decisive help they contribute to stability and the security of the wider eastern Mediterranean, sending an important message about Europe’s potential but also the road that must be followed, taking into account today’s geopolitical facts.”

17. LEADERS AT PODIUMS

18. (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GREEK PRIME MINISTER KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS SAYING:

“From Cyprus, together with president Nikos Christodoulides, and French President Emmanuel Macron, we send a strong, common, clear and determined message of unity and solidarity. A clear message my dear Niko, that the Cyprus republic of the European family, is not, and will never remain alone.”

19. LEADERS SHAKING HANDS AND EMBRACING, AND WALKING OFF STAGE