Arrival of the Second French Warship in the Red Sea

The French army announced today, Thursday, the arrival of a second warship in the Red Sea as part of efforts to ensure freedom of navigation. In a weekly press briefing, the French army stated that the warship Alsace has crossed the Suez Canal and will continue its mission in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The army added, "In close cooperation with allies, French warships contribute to the respect of international law and freedom of navigation." The warship Languedoc has already been conducting patrols in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait since December 8, alongside an international mission led by the United States to protect vessels from attacks. French officials noted that both ships will remain under French command, indicating that the main mission is to escort vessels associated with France. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France did not participate in the U.S.-led strikes against the Houthis as it wishes to avoid regional escalation.