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As the United States enters its 32nd day of war against Iran, tensions are rising between Washington and Paris. Donald Trump points to a lack of cooperation and accuses France of closing its airspace to American planes carrying weapons, a decision that would complicate American military operations.
Fifth week of war in Iran and tensions continue to mount between Donald Trump and France. The American president makes his grievances on social media: “France has been very uncooperative, the United States will remember.”
Why this discontent? Because France has banned the overflight of its territory by any plane carrying weapons intended to strike Iran. This was the case, for example, on Saturday, March 28, with an Israeli plane loaded with American munitions. The shortest route for planes coming from the United States passes through France due to the curvature of the Earth. With the ban from Paris, US Air Force pilots must fly further south, making the journey longer. The same scenario occurs when Americans take off from Great Britain, where some of their bombers are stationed. There too, flying over France is faster. But when it is prohibited, they have to go through the Strait of Gibraltar.
An expert explains: “Having to bypass France will represent hours and hours of additional flight time, round trip, since these planes will not land at their destination, they will carry out their mission and return, especially for B-52 or B-1 bombers. So overall, it greatly complicates the lives of Americans.”
The Élysée Palace maintains its policy and is surprised on March 31 by this sudden bad mood of Donald Trump: “We are surprised by this tweet. France has not changed its position since day one.”
France has nevertheless allowed American refueling aircraft to land at Istres air base in the south of the country because they are not directly involved in strikes on Iran.
