Macron Prepares Aircraft Carrier for Strait of Hormuz
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France is poised to send an aircraft carrier to the Strait of Hormuz in a matter of days to facilitate the free passage of maritime traffic following a recent peace agreement between the US and Iran.
As he spoke ahead of the Group of Seven summit in Evian, Macron emphasized his commitment to leading a United Nations effort to maintain open navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. This area has seen disruptions as the Iranian regime recently claimed to have deployed sea mines in this critical waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
President Macron confirmed the long-anticipated plan for a mission led by France and the UK, stating that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, along with its accompanying support vessels, could be ready for deployment “within two or three days after confirmation” of the peace deal.
He asserted that France would uphold international law and work diligently to prevent the Iranian regime from imposing tolls on vessels navigating these waters, through which around twenty percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies travel annually.
This announcement came after US President Donald Trump declared on Sunday night that an agreement with Tehran had been finalized, which included lifting restrictions on Iranian ports and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump encouraged global shipping, saying, “Ships of the world, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”
Shortly thereafter, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also affirmed that the UK is prepared to assist in ensuring that the Strait remains open indefinitely.
Starmer noted that the UK would collaborate with international partners to facilitate this effort, including providing support for demining operations. He mentioned the possibility of establishing a defensive, independent multilateral mission where the UK and France had previously taken leading roles.
However, there are concerns about the Royal Navy’s capability, particularly after years of budget cuts. The effectiveness of its once-strong naval power was evident early in the Iranian conflict, as it took over a week to deploy HMS Dragon following a suspected Iranian drone strike on a Royal Air Force base.
This unpreparedness has led to strain in relations between London and Washington, especially after President Trump urged the UK to send minesweepers to aid the reopening of the Strait. Prime Minister Starmer declined, citing the UK’s existing NATO obligations regarding mine clearance.
Initially, some speculated Starmer’s reluctance stemmed from differences with the US, but reports later indicated that Britain’s mine-hunting fleet had been grounded months prior. Notably, the UK seemed to have applied the Capacity Gap Treasury method, decommissioning older vessels without immediate replacements to cut costs.
While this approach may save money in the defense budget, it raises concerns about national security should conflict break out, especially given past incidents with Iran. It remains uncertain if the next-generation minesweepers will be ready in time for potential deployment in the Strait of Hormuz.
