France Deploys Mine Hunters to Support Maritime Security in Strait of Hormuz
PARIS:France has deployed naval mine-hunting vessels to help ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, amid continued efforts to restore maritime security in one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes.
In a statement posted on X, French President Emmanuel Macron said France’s mine hunters are ready to work alongside partner nations to support the full restoration of maritime traffic and ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Macron also announced that, following consultations with Omani authorities, France had decided to recall its aircraft carrier, French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, to port.
However, he said France’s mine countermeasure assets and their security escort would remain deployed in the region and ready to conduct operations if required.
The deployment follows Iran’s rejection of France’s proposed involvement in the Strait of Hormuz late last month, after President Macron first announced the initiative.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor through which a significant share of the world’s seaborne oil exports passes, making maritime security in the area a matter of international concern.
