War in the Middle East: the French aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” deployed in the Arabian Sea

Here they are “in the zone”. The French aircraft carrier “Charles-de-Gaulle” and its escort have arrived in the Arabian Sea, where they are prepositioned in the event of the triggering of a “neutral” mission to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, announced this Friday the Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces, Alice Rufo.

“He passed the Suez Canal. It has advanced towards the Arabian Sea (…), but it is not in the Strait of Hormuz,” said the minister, interviewed by BFMTV.

“From the beginning, France’s position has really been to offer the possibility of resuming freedom of maritime movement in the strait, but according to a modality which is not at all an offensive modality, but completely defensive and in compliance with international law,” she added.

“Weigh in the diplomatic equation”

The flagship of the French fleet passed the Suez Canal on May 6 before making a stopover of several days in Djibouti, where France has a support point. Its presence in the Gulf region “gives us the means to assess the situation and to weigh in on the regional and global diplomatic equation,” explained the delegate minister.

France and the United Kingdom, at the head of a maritime coalition of around forty non-belligerent countries, are proposing a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz when Iran and the United States agree to lift their respective blockades, and in consultation with these two countries.

The blockage of this strategic maritime passage hinders the export of hydrocarbons from the Gulf and increases their prices, disrupting the global economy.