Under the slogan of "protecting France's economic interests," the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, accompanied by a multinational fleet, has set off in a grand manner toward the Middle East.

According to a report from the U.S. Naval Association website, the Charles de Gaulle has now arrived near Cyprus. Macron personally boarded the ship and delivered a speech, claiming that the arrival of the carrier is a "defensive deployment" aimed at "protecting France's economic interests." France is not a participant in the U.S.-Iran war and will not take part in this conflict.

France moved quickly

For this operation, the French Navy has almost mobilized all its rapid-response elite surface ships: in addition to the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, the French fleet also includes two frigates and a supply ship, as well as two multi-role frigates contributed by Spain and the Netherlands.

Additionally, during his inspection, Macron stated that France will soon dispatch two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships and eight frigates to the Middle East, and claimed that France is currently discussing with Europe and other countries to establish a convoy fleet in the Strait of Hormuz.

Contrary to many people's first reaction, the reason for France's large-scale movement this time is indeed as Macron's slogan says — it is not to follow the United States in launching an aggression against Iran, but to genuinely protect France's "economic interests" in the Middle East.

France's interests in the Middle East are far more than just energy routes. Militarily, France has a permanent military base in Abu Dhabi, and the UAE is one of France's largest customers for arms sales; politically, Lebanon is regarded as "the extension of France in the Middle East," with its economic lifelines and elite class deeply tied to France; geographically, Cyprus is France's "bridgehead" and energy security anchor point in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In short, the military sales clients in the Gulf were attacked, so France came to support them.

Therefore, the escalating U.S.-Iran war has not only blocked the Strait of Hormuz but has also directly harmed France's substantial interests.

Certainly, apart from safeguarding existing interests, France, or Europe, also has its own calculations regarding the U.S.-Iran war. Macron's plan for the Strait of Hormuz is not about immediately sending warships to escort there, but rather "after the most intense phase of the war ends."

Translated, this means: Europe does not want to risk everything for the U.S., but instead plans to wait until the U.S. and Iran have exhausted each other or one side gains a decisive advantage, then step in as a mediator under the guise of "maintaining a rules-based world order," preserving its strength while reaping post-war order dominance and security contracts — in short, Europe wants to share the post-war benefits while maintaining the image of a "civilized world."

There is also the UK joining in

However, Trump is not a politician from the Democratic Party who values "decency." Since taking office last year, his various military decisions have already torn off the mask of the U.S. "rule order," clearly telling the world that truth lies within the range of cannons, and power is the hard currency.

For Europe to maintain its interests in the Middle East, just shouting slogans is not enough — it needs real capability to fight. The problem is, does Europe have this capability?

Of course not. This time, the Charles de Gaulle went out, and the escort fleet even included frigates from the Netherlands and Spain. This may seem like a show of European unity, but it actually reveals the overall decline of European naval power.

It should be said that Macron is most skilled at making slogans

It is precisely because no country can independently assemble a fully functional long-range fleet that multiple countries need to "crowdsource" to make a show. This "joint fleet" trick has been played by Europe more than once.

At the root of it, the French multinational fleet of the Charles de Gaulle and Macron's slogan of "defending interests" reflect both the extensive and complex interests France has in the Middle East, as well as the awkwardness and helplessness of Europe in the face of American hegemony.

Europe cannot detach itself from geopolitical interests, yet lacks the strength to defend these interests independently; it wants to keep distance from the U.S., yet is unable to break free from its security framework. Especially when Trump completely sheds his disguise and speaks with force, the neatly packaged "rules" and "order" of Europe immediately become fragile.



Original: toutiao.com/article/7616685768032584201/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.