:France's President Emmanuel Macron (C) speaks next to France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu (4L) and France's Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin (3L) during a national defence council meeting on Middle East conflict at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Benoit Tessier / POOL / AFP)
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday confirmed that his country isn't prepared to participate in operations to secure the Strait of Hormuz under the current circumstances, denying remarks by his US counterpart Donald Trump, in which Trump expressed Paris' readiness to help in this operation.
During a cabinet meeting to discuss conflicts in the Middle East, Macron said: "We are not a party to the conflict and therefore France will never take part in operations to open or liberate the Strait of Hormuz in the current context," Macron said.
"However, we are convinced that once the situation becomes calmer... we are ready, alongside other nations, to take responsibility for an escort system."
Macron further stated that once the situation calms down, that is, once the main bombing stops, France will be ready alongside other countries to assume responsibility in the escort system, stressing that this also requires deliberations.
On Monday, Trump mentioned that he spoke with Macron to explore the possibility of French support for an operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and he hinted that Paris would join the efforts backed by Washington.
