France will send two warships to Red Sea, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a joint press conferance with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides (not pictured) and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (not pictured) at Paphos military airport, on the day of Macron's visit to show France's solidarity after recent drone attacks amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, and aimed at reinforcing European security in the Eastern Mediterranean, in Paphos, Cyprus, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool

PAPHOS, Cyprus, ⁠March 9 (Reuters) - ⁠France will send two ‌frigates as part of the European Union's naval ​mission Aspides ⁠in the ⁠Red Sea, French President Emmanuel ⁠Macron ‌said on Monday.

"We ⁠are in the process of ​setting ‌upa purely defensive, ⁠purely ​escort mission, which must be prepared ⁠together with both ​European and non-European states," Macron said after ⁠meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister ​Kyriakos ⁠Mitsotakis in Cyprus.

(Reporting by ​John Irish ‌and Michele Kambas; ​Writing by Gianluca Lo Nostro)