PARIS, France — May 6, 2026
France has deployed its only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the area near the Strait of Hormuz in a multinational effort to ensure maritime safety following months of conflict with Iran.
According to the French Ministry of Defense, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort task force have passed through the Suez Canal and are entering the Red Sea.
French military officials stated that the ship will be ready to support the protection of maritime activities through the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. and Iran reach a peace agreement and Tehran agrees to reopen this strategic shipping route.
Colonel Guillaume Vernet, a French military spokesperson, said the deployment of the Charles de Gaulle allows Paris to respond more quickly when conditions permit.
The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle entered service in 1994, carrying approximately 40 aircraft and helicopters along with nearly 2,000 personnel.
The accompanying task group consists of 8 warships and 2 amphibious assault ships. The deployment in the Red Sea allows this force to operate near the Strait of Hormuz without yet entering the direct dispute zone.
France emphasized that this mission is separate from Donald Trump’s “Project Freedom”—the U.S. commercial vessel escort operation that was suspended on Wednesday.
French officials warned that reopening the transport route through Hormuz is nearly impossible without cooperation from Iran, especially as Tehran has repeatedly attacked foreign ships attempting to cross the area this week.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to shock global energy markets. According to the report, Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer have jointly pushed for an alliance of more than 40 nations to resolve the maritime crisis in the region.
