Macron: "Only bombing" cannot achieve regime change

France - French President Macron visited Cyprus on the 9th and met with the Cypriot president and Greek prime minister to demonstrate the EU's "solidarity". Macron landed by helicopter on an aircraft carrier. France has moved the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier from the North Atlantic to the eastern Mediterranean, currently near Crete, heading east, in order to deal with the escalation of the Middle East conflict, protect allies (such as Cyprus) and maritime route security.

On March 9, French President Macron on the "Charles de Gaulle" aircraft carrier stated that France has been conducting "interception" operations recently to protect its partner countries affected by the Middle East war. He also added that bombing by the United States and Israel alone is not enough to achieve a "profound regime change" in Iran.

Macron said: "In recent days, we have been carrying out interception operations," "We are doing this within the framework of our partnership."

Macron added: "I think we cannot achieve a profound regime change and political system change through bombing alone." He estimated that the conflict "will definitely last for several days, even weeks, in the current intense phase."

On the morning of March 9, when Macron briefly visited the military airport of Paphos (Paphos) located in the southwest of the EU island Cyprus, together with the Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides, he emphasized: "If Cyprus is attacked, the entire Europe will be attacked."

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, also present, added: "We will not allow even the smallest European territory like Cyprus to be threatened."

Macron announced that France will provide "two frigates" (currently one) on a "long-term" basis, while the EU expressed willingness to "adjust and further strengthen" its maritime protection mission. In addition, the French president said, "We are preparing a 'purely defensive, purely supportive mission', whose purpose is to escort container ships and tankers as soon as possible after the most intense phase of the conflict, so as to gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz."

Macron pointed out that this is crucial for the "flow of natural gas and oil", because the conflict has made the Strait of Hormuz impassable, causing oil prices to surge in recent days.

Macron assured that he is preparing this "peaceful" mission with European partners, while also consulting with India and other Asian countries heavily affected by the current situation. He specifically noted that if this mission is eventually implemented, it may be deployed to the Strait of Hormuz "with several other countries".

After a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian the day before, French President Macron met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on the flight to Cyprus that same morning. Subsequently, Macron again called on the pro-Iranian Hezbollah to "stop all attacks launched from Lebanese territory". He emphasized: "Israel must quickly stop its military operations and attacks on Lebanon to restore Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and allow Lebanon's only legitimate armed force to safeguard its territorial security."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1859288785057804/

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