[US-Iran War] Macron: "Deploying Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier to the Mediterranean"

Amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will deploy a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean Sea.

Emmanuel Macron, President of France. Photo by Yonhap News

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According to major international media outlets such as the Associated Press, on March 3 (local time), President Macron said in a pre-recorded speech broadcast on French television, "We have ordered the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort ships to move from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean."

President Macron stated, "Rafale fighter jets, air defense systems, and aerial radar systems have recently been deployed to the Middle East," adding, "We will continue these efforts for as long as necessary."

He also announced that France would support Cyprus's air defense network in response to an Iranian-made drone attack on the British Royal Air Force base on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus. He said, "We have decided to dispatch additional air defense assets and the French escort ship Languedoc, which is expected to arrive off the coast of Cyprus this evening."

President Macron pointed out that the United States and Israel lack legal justification for their attacks on Iran. He stated, "The United States and Israel have decided to conduct military operations outside the bounds of international law, and we cannot approve this."

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Nevertheless, he emphasized, "The Islamic Republic of Iran must bear primary responsibility for this situation," citing Iran's nuclear program development, its support for regional proxy forces, and the order to fire on anti-government protesters in January as examples.

President Macron revealed that, at the start of the conflict, French forces shot down drones as an act of self-defense. Referring to defense agreements with Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he explained, "We responded immediately and, within the first few hours of the conflict, shot down drones in self-defense to protect the airspace of allied countries."

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