France sends aircraft carrier toward Hormuz as tensions threaten global shipping
French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (photo: Wikimedia)
France has deployed its carrier strike group to the Red Sea. Paris is preparing a large-scale mission aimed at securing the Hormuz Strait, Reuters reports.
A representative of the French presidency explained the reasons behind Paris' actions during a briefing:
"The reason why we must make a renewed effort today is simply that the blockade of Hormuz continues, the damage to the world's economy is therefore becoming more and more pronounced, and the risk of a prolongation of hostilities is too serious for us to accept it."
France and the United Kingdom are working together and have been preparing special proposals for safe shipping for several weeks. The plan is expected to begin operating after the acute phase of the conflict is resolved.
Composition of France's strike group
Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle did not go to sea alone. It is accompanied by Italian and Dutch military ships, and the entire group is now heading toward the southern part of the Red Sea.
The military has the following tasks:
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Assess operational situation in the region;
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Expand crisis management options;
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Integrate partner forces into a unified protection system;
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Reassure participants in maritime trade about safety.
Paris is proposing a complicated compromise: Iran should receive free passage for its ships through the Strait, but in return, Tehran must begin negotiations on its nuclear program and missiles. The United States, for its part, must lift the blockade.
The French presidency official added:
"What we are proposing is that Iran gains passage for its ships through the Strait and, in return, commits to negotiating with the Americans on issues of nuclear materials, missiles, and the region, and we propose that the Americans, for their part, lift their blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and, in return, obtain Iran's commitment to negotiations.
Under these conditions, we could deploy the multinational force to secure the convoys crossing the Strait of Hormuz, and this obviously requires that the Iranians not fire on the ships."
What preceded this event
Earlier, Iran announced safe passage through the Hormuz Strait. However, it noted that this happened thanks to "new procedures," although what exactly these "procedures" are remains unknown.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is confident that he will obtain all enriched uranium from Tehran. He recalled that there are high chances for a deal, and negotiations are currently underway.
In turn, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed China. He called on Beijing to influence the Iranian leadership, since the conflict is harming the Chinese economy.
