The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will head to the Gulf on Wednesday to carry out a multinational mission led by Paris and London aimed at protecting international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. This step comes within the framework of a French-British initiative launched by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. London and Paris stressed that this mission would be defensive only, and would not be deployed until lasting peace was established in the region.

Published on: 05/06/2026 - 17:19

The Ministry of the Armed Forces said that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its accompanying ships on Wednesday crossed the Suez Canal to station themselves in the Gulf region, in anticipation of implementing a multinational mission led by Britain and France to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministry stated in a statement that "the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its accompanying ships crossed the Suez Canal on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, on its way to the southern Red Sea." She added that this decision aims to accelerate the implementation of this initiative “as soon as circumstances allow.”

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French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched an initiative to ensure the security of navigation in the strategic corridor, which has been practically closed by Iran since the start of the war in the Middle East on February 28. London and Paris stressed that this mission would be defensive only, and would not be deployed until lasting peace was established in the region.

The French Ministry of the Armed Forces stated that "the more than forty countries" that will participate in this force have begun military planning in London. She stressed once again that "the naval group's movement is separate from the military operations that began in the region, and comes as a continuation of the security system."

She explained that its presence in the vicinity of the Gulf will allow “evaluating the environment of the regional process in anticipation of launching the initiative” and “providing additional options for exiting the crisis in order to enhance the security of the region.”

She added that the group of French naval vessels would also allow "the integration of the means of countries wishing to include their actions within an appropriate defense mechanism that respects the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."

The "Charles de Gaulle", carrying about twenty Rafale fighter aircraft and accompanied by several frigates, sailed in late January from the port of Toulon to deploy in the North Atlantic Ocean. However, on March 3, it was redirected to the eastern Mediterranean to defend the interests of France and allied countries affected by the war.

France 24/AFP

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