During an interview given to TF1 by President Macron from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the President confirmed the French position in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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Chief of the Defence Staff of France, Thierry Burkhard, the French president Emmanuel Macron and the MoD, Sebastien Lecornu on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. (Picture source: French MoD)
Every year it is traditional for the French president to visit the French armed forces at Christmas time. This year he decided to visit the naval forces on the aircraft carrier, currently deployed.
The president explained that the aircraft carrier is currently off the coast of Egypt and that it is expected to continue its deployment to Aqaba, Jordan, before continuing its route in the Indian Ocean to reach India.
Emmanuel Macron said this showed that France was defending both Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
He insisted that France was one of the great powers of the Mediterranean and reassured its allies by citing Greece and Cyprus. He also recalled the very strong links in terms of defense between France and Egypt. And he confirmed France's alliances with the United Arab Emirates and India.
He spoke about the future French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace the Charles de Gaulle, estimating that it could be used until the late 2030s or early 2040s.
President Emmanuel Macron recalled that France was a European power but also a Pacific power because of its marine territories (New Caledonia, Polynesia).
