French President makes brief visit to Cyprus following Iranian drone attack amid US-Iran conflict
The French president made a quick visit to Paphos, on the Mediterranean island, which was hit by an Iranian-made drone after the start of the conflict triggered on February 28 by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The central message: “When Cyprus is attacked, Europe is attacked.” France is responding promptly to protect Cyprus, just as it does for its Gulf partners facing Iranian reprisals. He mentioned, without further details, new “interceptions” of strikes that have continued in recent days.
Following this, a detour by the aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle,” now off the coast of Crete, Greece, as part of a significant military deployment decided by Paris in response to the Middle East conflict.
First Leader to Cyprus
The “Charles de Gaulle” is in the eastern Mediterranean as part of a major air-naval deployment that also includes eight frigates and two amphibious helicopter carriers in a vast area that includes the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.
By being the first leader to visit Cyprus and by deploying these military assets in coordination with several countries, including Italy and Spain, Emmanuel Macron is trying to consolidate his role as a leader in European defense, a week after putting France at the center of the game by proposing an “advanced” nuclear deterrence in service of Europe.
“Your presence today demonstrates the power of France, a power of balance, of peace with its friends,” he told the sailors of the “Charles de Gaulle” on Monday. “Also the power of a European power that can organize around itself and orchestrate the presence of several other Europeans,” added Macron, who has been advocating for strategic autonomy of the Old Continent for several years.
“Where is the voice of France?”
In contrast, the UK is criticized for its slower deployment, even though it is a British base that was hit in Cyprus. “For now, France’s reaction has been rather appropriate,” acknowledged one of his main opponents, the president of the National Rally Jordan Bardella, on BFMTV.
On the diplomatic front, however, other voices criticize a certain embarrassment of the head of state, who seems to want to maneuver between the United States and Israel, without approving their operation or participating more directly.
