French Aircraft Carrier Sails Towards the Strait of Hormuz

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PARIS – French Defence Minister Alice Rufo announced on Friday (15/5/2026) that the French aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, is sailing towards the Arabian Sea, from where it will proceed to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had previously issued a warning regarding France’s move.

“(The ship) has passed through the Suez Canal, heading towards the Arabian Sea, and is now in the region,” Rufo told BFMTV television.

The presence of the aircraft carrier in the region allows for the assessment of the situation and provides influence for regional and global diplomacy. Minister Rufo emphasised that the French aircraft carrier is not only present in the Strait of Hormuz.

The French Ministry of Defence had previously announced that Charles de Gaulle was heading to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as part of a joint mission between Paris and London to ensure maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Previously, on 10 May, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that the presence of British and French warships in the Strait of Hormuz would receive a firm and immediate response from the Iranian armed forces.

Tensions in the region have escalated since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iranian territory on 28 February. The US and Iran announced a ceasefire on 7 April, but the US continues to blockade maritime access to Iranian ports, while Iran has announced special transit rules for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.