French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Cyprus on Monday for a trilateral summit with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announcing immediate solidarity measures after the island came under attack from multiple drones and missiles.
Meeting at the “Andreas Papandreou” air base in Paphos, Macron said France had deployed the frigate Languedoc and a Mistral air defence unit to the region.
He added that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its battle group were now operating in waters close to Cyprus, and that he planned to visit the carrier for a situation briefing before returning to Paris.
“The security of all Europeans is our common interest,” Macron wrote in a post announcing the visit. “We took immediate solidarity measures towards Cyprus, which came under attack from multiple drones and missiles.”
In a second post, written in French, Macron said the conflict had created a de facto closure of shipping lanes with consequences for the global economy, and that France was taking steps to restore freedom of navigation — including through the EU’s Aspides maritime operation.
He said France was also coordinating efforts to ensure the safety of approximately 400,000 French nationals remaining in the region and to support the repatriation of those wishing to return.
“We did not want this war, but we have a responsibility to do everything to protect our fellow citizens, protect our economies, and avoid an escalation in the region, in Lebanon and in the Middle East,” he said.
Macron added that during France’s G7 presidency he had launched coordination among heads of state and government to address energy challenges arising from the conflict.
Read more: