Macron announces joint international mission to protect oil tankers and reopen Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is a natural feature of the Persian Gulf through which it passes a significant percentage of the world’s crude oil and gasas well as other essential products. Since the US and Israel operation ‘Epic Fury’, the Iranian regime has blocked maritime traffic in the area.

Macron detailed that eight frigates, two amphibious helicopter carriers and the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, currently on a Cyprus defense mission, will be deployed on this mission. The operation will cover the Eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the mouth of Hormuz itself.

The president made these statements during his visit to the island to express his solidarity with the authorities and the Cypriot population. “Whoever attacks Cyprus attacks Europe,” he declared.

“The defense of Cyprus is, obviously, an essential issue for your country and for your partner, neighbor and friend, Greece,” he continued from the Cyprus air base. Paphos. “But it is also for France, and with it, for the entire European Union.”

Macron has traveled accompanied by the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakisand have been received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Níkos Christodoulídis. The latter has thanked the deployment of Greek F-16 fighters, the French frigate ‘Lafayette’ and the anti-aircraft system ‘Mistral’.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the French president has detailed that the mission should be carried out with “European and non-European countries“It could not be carried out, furthermore, until it is finished.”the hottest phase of the conflict“Macron did not specify when this moment would come.

“We are preparing this mission with our partners, in an orderly manner, and with a purely peaceful objective of accompaniment. It is something essential for our economy and for the world economy,” Macron insisted.

The operation, Macron concludes, will focus on “escorting” various types of vessels so that “gas and oil” can transit Hormuz again.

An energetic G7

Macron has also announced an extraordinary meeting of G7 energy ministers. The summit, which will be held on Tuesday, will seek “close coordination” given the impact that the attacks against Iran by the United States and Israel are having on oil and gas prices.

Oil prices have skyrocketed more than 50% since the beginning of the war and this Monday the barrel of Brent, which serves as a reference in Europe, surpassed the threshold of 115 dollars.

The French head of state also has asked Israel to stop attacks against Lebanonafter having a telephone conversation this Monday with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The call was “heated”, according to French media.

In Cyprus, Macron has also called for a ceasefire from Hezbollah, responsible for the drone attacks that have affected British bases in Cyprus. “Our objective is simple: Hezbollah must cease all attacks from Lebanese soil, as it endangers all Lebanese. Israel must then cease as soon as possible,” he declared.