France, May 07 (V7N) - France’s flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is heading to the southern Red Sea to pre‑position for a possible mission to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the presidency and defence ministry confirmed Wednesday.  

An aide to President Emmanuel Macron said the move was intended to signal readiness and capability to secure the strategic waterway, through which around one‑fifth of the world’s crude oil normally transits. Traffic has largely halted since conflict erupted in the Middle East in late February.  

Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are spearheading a multinational initiative to ensure freedom of navigation in Hormuz. They emphasized the mission would be defensive and deployed only once lasting peace in the region is agreed. More than 40 countries have already begun military planning in London.  

France has proposed that the United States and Iran treat the Hormuz issue separately from the broader conflict. “It is in the common interest,” a Macron aide said, adding that Iran could regain passage rights if it joins substantive negotiations. The Elysee stressed that lifting the US blockade would help restore confidence and calm global markets.  

The Charles de Gaulle, carrying around 20 Rafale fighter jets and escorted by several frigates, transited the Suez Canal Wednesday en route to the Red Sea. Originally deployed to the North Atlantic in January, the carrier was redirected to the eastern Mediterranean in March to defend French and allied interests amid Iranian retaliation for Israeli‑American strikes.  

The defence ministry said the carrier’s movement is separate from ongoing military operations, but its presence near the Gulf will allow an early assessment of the regional environment ahead of a possible launch of the initiative.

END/WD/RH