French President Emmanuel Macron has initiated coordination with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to address shipping security in the Eastern Mediterranean. The three European leaders agreed to work together to guarantee navigation freedom in the Red Sea, particularly concerning military shipments to Cyprus. This cooperation comes amid escalating tensions following the war between the US and Israel against Iran.

A British air base in Cyprus was struck by a drone attack late Sunday, marking the first assault on European territory in this conflict. While UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that bases in Cyprus were not being used by US bombers, additional drones were intercepted en route to the island, according to Cypriot government reports. The drone strikes have raised concerns about regional stability and shipping routes.

In response to rising energy prices and threats to maritime trade, Macron announced plans to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean. The move aims to protect European economic interests as markets face pressure from disrupted energy supplies. This military positioning reflects growing European concerns about securing vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea amid the broader Middle East conflict.