France deploys aircraft carrier group to Red Sea to support maritime security

Istanbul (ANTARA) - France’s Ministry of Defence has deployed its aircraft carrier strike group towards the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to support maritime security efforts in the region. “The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has global implications,” the ministry stated in a release on Wednesday. The ministry added that France “is not a party to the conflict” and remains committed to international law and sovereignty. The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort ships transited the Suez Canal on Wednesday, heading to the southern Red Sea. The ministry said French forces have been operating in a “defensive posture” since 28 February and have contributed to a multinational initiative involving more than 40 countries aimed at restoring safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. This deployment is intended to “first assess the regional operational environment,” while offering “additional options for crisis response” to enhance regional security. The move also aims to “reassure maritime trade actors,” the ministry stated. The statement added that the carrier group will help “integrate the capabilities of partners into an adaptive defence framework,” in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ministry emphasised that this force deployment “differs from ongoing military operations in the region” and is intended to complement existing security arrangements. Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on 28 February, which prompted retaliation from Tehran against Israel and US allies in the Gulf, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire came into effect on 8 April through mediation by Pakistan, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. The ceasefire was subsequently extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump without a specified timeline. After failing to reach an agreement, the US has imposed a naval blockade since 13 April targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the strait.