An EUNAVFOR warship escorts a CMA CGM containership in the Red Sea as part of the EU's Operation ASPIDES. Photo courtesy EUNAVFOR
By Samy Adghirni
Mar 5, 2026 (Bloomberg) –France has reached out to the governments of Italy and Greece to coordinate efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean as tensions over the war in Iran flare, a person close to French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Macron on Thursday morning held separate calls with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a spirit of European solidarity, the person added on condition of anonymity.
The three leaders agreed to coordinate any military shipments to Cyprus and to work together to guarantee navigation freedom in the Red Sea.
A British air base in Cyprus was hit by a drone strike late Sunday, marking the first attack on European territory. While UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that bases in Cyprus were not being used by US bombers, more drones headed in their direction were intercepted, according to the Cypriot government.
Macron on Tuesday said he would send an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean to help secure maritime routes and ensure Europe’s economic interests in the region.
The move followed a jump in energy prices as the US and Israel wage their war on Iran, pressuring markets already grappling with low supplies.
Read More: Macron to Deploy Aircraft Carrier to Shield Mideast Shipping
© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.
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Saudi Arabia’s main shipping firm Bahri reported a 10-fold jump in third-quarter profit as its oil tanker business benefited from surging freight rates amid the Iran war.
The Greek finance ministry said on Thursday it was implementing sanctions in place linked to Iran and that it backed efforts to effectively combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Shipowners are facing an increasingly fragmented fuel market as disruptions triggered by the Middle East conflict raise concerns about the availability and quality of supply.
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