French president Emmanuel Macron tonight announced that he retasked aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort to the Eastern Mediterranean. In addition, Aquitaine-class FREMM frigate Languedoc will reach Cyprus tomorrow and two surface combatants will be deployed to the Red Sea in support of European mission ASPIDES. The decision to move vessels to the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea are in direct relation to ongoing Iran tensions.
As Naval News reported last week, the French carrier strike group (CSG) made a historic port call to Malmö, Sweden. Charles de Gaulle departed Sweden yesterday and was set to take part to NATO exercise Cold Response this month, off Norway.
The French Ministry of Armed Forces announced on Friday, February 20, 2026, that the Charles de Gaulle CSG started an operational deployment to the North Atlantic as part of the mission “LA FAYETTE 26”.
When it set sail from Toulon on 27 January to take part in ORION 26, a major exercise off France’s Atlantic coast, the Charles de Gaulle CSG consisted of:
- Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91),
- Air Defense FREMM Frigate Alsace (D652),
- Horizon type air defense destroyer Chevalier Paul (D621),
- Horizon type air defense destroyer (Italian Navy) Andrea Doria (D553)
- and the new replenishment vessel (known as BRF) Jacques Chevallier (A725).
According to Tayfun Ozberk, a former FAC commanding officer in the Turkish Navy and regular contributor to Naval News, it should take the carrier strike group about one week to transit from the North Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean. That’s if the CSG doesn’t conduct a technical stop in Brest or Toulon, the main naval bases of the French Navy.
Frigates deployed to Cyprus and Red Sea
In addition to the retasking of the French CSG, the French president also announced that FREMM frigate Languedoc will reach Cyprus tomorow and will be protecting the island. Aquitaine-class FREMM frigates are now fitted with several counter UxV systems (both kinetic and non kinetic). In addition, FREMM frigates like Languedoc are fitted with Aster 15 surface to air missiles. French Navy crews have experience in countering Iranian missiles and drones since their numerous Red Sea deployments in the past couple of years.
Today, the UK ministry of defense announced that Royal Navy Daring-class Type 45 destroyer was dispatched to Cyprus to protect British interests there. The moves comeafter a UK air base was targeted by Iranian-made drones on Monday.
Two French surface combatants will also be deployed to the Red Sea in support of EU mission ASPIDES. The class or types of these two combatants hasn’t been disclosed.
In addition, France will send air defense systems to Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and additional Rafale fighters to the UAE. France has hundreds of navy, air force and army personnel based in the UAE. Its Rafale aircraft are stationed at Al Dhafra base near Abu Dhabi while the naval base is in Abu Dhabi. A hangar at the French naval base was hit by an Iranian drone on Sunday. There were no casualties or injuries.
