President Emmanuel Macron said France and its allies were preparing a “defensive” mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, March 9, as well as warning that an attack on Cyprus was an attack on all of Europe, as the Middle East war entered its second week. Separately, on Monday morning, Macron spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon, the Elysée said.

Macron, who was on a trip to Cyprus to discuss regional security, said the joint mission would be aimed at escorting container ships and tankers in order to gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz “after the end of the hottest phase of the conflict.” “This is essential for international trade, but also for the flow of gas and oil, which must be able to leave this region once again,” said Macron, speaking in Paphos, on the southwestern coast of Cyprus.

    • cmbabul@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      It’s actually kinda smart to do that when he’s juxtaposed to the biggest fucking idiot to ever hold a globally visible public office

      • A🔻atar of 🔻engeance@lemmy.ml
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        40 minutes ago

        Honeslty I think the Euros are overestimating how long these kinds of governments will be taken seriously on their visits to China they make just to return home and announce “what I saw proves we need to double down on letting Blackrock run our country, also we’re doing austerity btw”

        • cmbabul@lemmy.world
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          10 hours ago

          You’re not wrong, “who’s the bigger fool, the fool or the fool that follows him”