The French Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces, Alice Rufo, stated on Wednesday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance related to the security of territories in the Euro-Atlantic area and is not designed to carry out operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the War and Peace Forum in Paris, Rufo pointed out that NATO is not designed to carry out coercive operations in the Strait of Hormuz, as this would violate international law. Her statements come after US President Donald Trump's assertion that he is seriously considering the United States' withdrawal from NATO after the alliance did not join the attacks on Iran. The British newspaper The Telegraph also reported that he described the alliance as a "paper tiger". Regarding the tension in the Middle East, Rufo indicated that the French peacekeeping forces operating in Lebanon were subjected to "absolutely unacceptable intimidation." She added that she had previously traveled to Lebanon to express her solidarity with the Indonesian and French peacekeepers working there. The minister also wrote on social media X that the security of the peacekeepers, who work every day in favor of de-escalation, must be fully guaranteed. Cross-border clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah along the Lebanon-Israel border have intensified since March 2, according to the Argentine News Agency (NA). Earlier this week, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon, where Israel is intensifying its air strikes and ground military operations.
Macron's words For his part, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Wednesday that France is not participating in the military action launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, in response to Trump's accusations. "It is absolutely true that France, which was not consulted and is not part of the military offensive launched by the United States and Israel, is not participating," the French news channel BFMTV reported, citing Macron. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that "France would not allow planes bound for Israel, loaded with military supplies, to fly over French territory." He described the country as "totally useless" and warned that the United States would "remember it." In response to these comments, the Élysée Palace reaffirmed that France's position remains unchanged.
"We confirm this decision, which is consistent with France's position since the beginning of the conflict," it stated. France opposed the military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, calling them "outside of international law."
