Macron Affirms French Readiness for Military Intervention

French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed his country's readiness for military intervention to counter international crises, stressing that France would take all necessary measures to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz. His statements, which ruled out tax cuts as a solution to rising fuel prices, coincided with a sharp increase in fuel costs. During a joint television interview last Thursday, Macron warned of escalating tensions between Russia and European nations. He suggested France could face an attack by an explosive-laden drone, similar to the one targeting Leipzig Airport in Germany in early August. The French President clarified that his country has not yet experienced such an attack, denying reports that the CIA informed French agencies about the possibility of Russian drone attacks targeting southern France, contrary to foreign press reports. However, he affirmed that such an attack "could happen." Macron stated that Russia views Europe as "Ukraine's strategic depth," noting that European countries' assistance to Kyiv exposes the continent to targeting. In a related context, Macron deemed a new Russian mobilization scenario of approximately 300,000 soldiers realistic, following a similar partial mobilization of about 300,000 reservists four years prior. He pointed out that the war in Ukraine has cost Russia, since the invasion began, approximately 1.2 million people, including dead and wounded. Macron also reiterated his proposal for a "double halt" to strikes targeting energy infrastructure and civilian facilities in Ukraine and Russia, as well as in the Black Sea. He indicated that the repercussions of the Middle East war and tensions in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandeb significantly impacted the daily lives of the French, particularly with the continued rise in fuel prices. The French President announced the deployment of "military assets," including soldiers, radars, and defense systems, to protect the Yanbu site, Saudi Arabia's largest crude oil export terminal on the Red Sea, which is targeted by Houthis in Yemen. Macron did not rule out using "Rafale" fighter jets if necessary, affirming that France does not seek involvement in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed rebels. This move drew political criticism. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, "France Unbowed" candidate for the 2027 presidential elections, rejected the deployment of French forces in Saudi Arabia, demanding that the decision be presented to Parliament based on Article 35 of the Constitution. In turn, Sébastien Chenu, Vice President of the "National Rally," considered that sending French soldiers to protect Yanbu entails risks France should not bear, especially given the absence of a defense agreement linking it to Saudi Arabia. Regarding fuel prices, Macron announced his intention to gather G7 countries in the coming days to discuss re-releasing strategic oil reserves to calm markets. He also seeks to persuade US President Donald Trump not to suspend diesel exports, deeming such a decision to have negative consequences. Macron currently rejected lowering fuel taxes, a demand put forth by the "National Rally," while "France Unbowed" calls for price freezes. He stressed that the priority is to reduce prices before taxes, adding that tax reductions cannot be achieved without cutting spending. On the financial front, Macron admitted his failure to convince the French of the reforms he sought, expressing regret for not acting with sufficient speed and effectiveness to reform the French social model. Macron concluded by reaffirming the exclusion of dissolving the National Assembly again before the end of his term, considering that such a step would increase existing political instability, in addition to the challenges of war, purchasing power issues, and the budget, and would leave the next president facing difficulty in rebuilding a political majority.