French Aircraft Carrier Arrives in the Arabian Sea for Possible Mission in Hormuz

Paris (ANTARA) - The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has arrived in the Arabian Sea for a possible mission in the Strait of Hormuz, French Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces Alice Rufo said on Friday (15/5).

In an interview with French television channel BFM TV, Rufo said that France’s position is to help restore freedom of navigation through the strait in a “purely defensive” manner and with full respect for international law.

Rufo stated that the presence of the aircraft carrier group in the Gulf region provides a means to “assess the situation and contribute to shaping regional and global diplomatic efforts.”

According to several French media reports, the French flagship aircraft carrier crossed the Suez Canal on May 6 before stopping for a few days in Djibouti, where France has a military support base.

France and the United Kingdom held an international meeting on the Strait of Hormuz in Paris on April 17, which was attended by representatives from 51 countries.

Following the meeting, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the two countries would lead a multinational defensive mission to help protect shipping lanes if conditions were deemed appropriate.