French President Emmanuel Macron on the bridge of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, stationed in Greek waters, Monday, March 9, 2026. GONZALO FUENTES/AP
This war is not his. But on Monday, March 9, in front of the approximately 2,500 service members operating on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, President Emmanuel Macron sought to prove that France would be ready to fight, if needed, to protect its nationals and its allies. "We are preparing ourselves," warned Macron, who arrived by military helicopter on the French navy's flagship positioned in Greek waters.
With the sun setting over the Mediterranean Sea and frigates floating nearby, Macron brandished a powerful symbol with this military jewel recently arrived from the Baltic Sea. "Your presence demonstrates the power of France," he declared to the sailors. The Charles de Gaulle stands as proof of the army's "power projection capability," Macron added before journalists.
The aircraft carrier, equipped with 20 Rafale jets, three Hawkeye surveillance aircraft, and helicopters, is the centerpiece of a unique deterrent arsenal gradually deployed since the launch, on February 28, of the US-Israeli "Operation Epic Fury." The war, whose objectives were poorly defined by the US president, triggered an all-out response from Iran and one of its regional allies, Hezbollah, towards Israel. The Middle East is ablaze, oil prices are soaring, the Gulf countries are trembling, and Lebanon is plunging back into war. On the phone with his French counterpart on Sunday, Donald Trump seemed, according to witnesses, pleased with himself.
