The French Navy has just deployed a carrier strike group from the Mediterranean Sea into the Red Sea. This move signifies increasing preparation for efforts to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. While President Emmanuel Macron remains too timid in the face of Iran’s closure of the key energy chokepoint, he is at least showing tentative recognition that the current situation is untenable.
The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and two to three frigates are now able to either assist in intercepting missiles via any possible enjoinment of the conflict by the Houthi rebels in Yemen. As USNI News reports, the French already have two FREMM-class frigates operating in the Red Sea in addition to the carrier group. The Strait of Hormuz thus appears front of mind here. France and the United Kingdom have spent weeks discussing a Hormuz security operation, albeit without tangible results.
We shouldn’t exaggerate the importance of this deployment, of course. The French Navy remains absent from the Arabian Sea and Hormuz. Until this changes, we must judge Macron’s political resolve to take tougher action skeptically. Moreover, Europe’s hesitation in addressing Iran’s aggression deserves continued scrutiny. Europe was understandably opposed to this overly ambitious, originally regime change focused war. But in the end, that opposition is irrelevant to the present crisis.
As I’ve noted, “Iran’s closure of the strait might not involve NATO commitments, but it is clearly a major European security concern. Iran is deliberately causing significant economic harm to European nations and populations. Iranian leaders hope this pressure will lead American allies to force Trump to end the war.”
France can at least now claim that it is readying to perhaps do something about the situation in the strait. Not so America’s closest ally.
Consider that the U.K. currently has zero warships outside of its HMS Anson submarine currently operating in the Red Sea or Arabian Sea. HMS Dragon, an otherwise excellent air-defense destroyer, was unable to deploy to the region for more than a week due to low readiness levels, then suffered a serious malfunction shortly after entering the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Reflecting Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s weakness, HMS Dragon remains largely irrelevant to the conflict, ensconced as it is off the coast of Cyprus.
America’s oldest ally, then, offers the greatest chance of actually helping to resolve this crisis. Macron deserves gratitude for it. Although he has moved France uncomfortably close to China, the French Navy continues to be an effective U.S. partner. Associated cooperation includes classified submarine operations on China-related contingencies.
HOW CAN THE UK BETTER PROTECT ITS JEWS?
As long as the strait remains closed, Europe and nations the world over will continue to suffer from soaring energy prices and the growing specter of deep fuel shortages. In turn, Europe must join U.S. efforts, or engage in its own effort, to help open the strait.
It is fortunate that France is, if only tentatively, showing readiness to do just that.