President Emmanuel Macron will visit Cyprus to show solidarity after the island was targeted by Iranian-made drones. France has deployed the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean, along with a frigate and air defence units to Cyprus, in what it described as a strictly defensive move.

Macron is set to meet Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss strengthening security in the eastern Mediterranean. The visit comes amid a second week of conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has heightened tensions across the Middle East.

Ahead of his trip, Macron spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging an immediate halt to strikes in the region and calling for guarantees of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He also held talks with leaders from Qatar, Egypt, and Azerbaijan, stressing the need for de-escalation, maritime security in the Red Sea, and regional stability through negotiation.