Emmanuel Macron

European Countries Seek Non-Involvement in Hormuz Strait as U.S. Pushes International Participation

The U.S. has encouraged its allies in Europe and the Gulf to increase their military participation in the Strait of Hormuz amid Iranian threats to close the waterway, prompting European countries to establish positions of non-involvement. On Monday, U.S. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called on the Gulf and Europe to do more to help ...

Trump Pressures NATO, China over Iran's Closure of Hormuz

President Donald Trump urged NATO partners and China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical conduit for crude that Iran has effectively closed, as major economic players began releasing oil reserves on Monday to ward off supply disruptions. Global oil prices have surged by 40 to 50 percent after Iran choked off the waterway and ...

Israeli Army Begins "Limited Ground Operations" against Hezbollah

The Israeli army said on Monday it had begun “limited ground operations” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The move comes after a night of direct clashes in Khiam in south Lebanon’s Marjayoun district and days of heavy missile fire. Israel’s military spokesman said in a statement, “troops from the 91st ...

Oil Dips Under $100, Stocks Back in Green Tracking Mideast War

Oil dipped under $100 Friday, but remained far above pre-Mideast war levels with no end in sight to the disruption in supplies of crude. With the conflict heading towards its third week, equity markets were back in the green, having earlier lost ground amid investor worries about an extended crisis that could fan inflation and hammer the global ...

Lebanon Says 7 Killed in Israeli Strike on Central Beirut

Lebanon said an Israeli strike on central Beirut's seafront killed at least seven people early on Thursday, another attack in the heart of the capital as Iran-backed Hezbollah launched more missiles at Israel. The Israeli military said separately it had carried out strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs overnight against Hezbollah, which ...

Macron Urges Hezbollah to Disarm

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday urged Hezbollah to cease its attacks from Lebanon against Israel and hand over its weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). In a post on the platform X, Macron said Israelis and Lebanese “have the same right” to live in peace and security, stressing that this principle underpins the continued ...

Iran War Sends Oil Price Soaring

Global energy markets surged Monday as the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel entered its tenth day, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel and triggering sharp declines in global equity markets amid fears of supply disruptions across the Middle East. The spike in prices came as Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba ...

Lebanon, France Postpone Paris Security and Disarmament Conference Amid Regional Tension

Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed in a phone call on March 1 to postpone the international conference in Paris, originally scheduled for March 5, which aimed to support Lebanon’s security forces and advance disarmament of non-state armed groups. The leaders cited the absence of appropriate ...

France Seeks UN Security Council Meeting on Iran-U.S. Conflict

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, saying the escalation "must stop". "France is calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council," Macron wrote on X. "The ongoing ...

Lebanon Signals Interest in Joining IMEC Trade Corridor

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has communicated to French President Emmanuel Macron expressing Lebanon’s interest in joining the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). As a signatory to the IMEC agreement, Lebanon is asking France to petition Lebanon’s integration into the corridor.  “Lebanon is ready to engage ...

Cairo Hosts Preparatory Meeting for Conference Supporting Lebanese Armed Forces

A preparatory meeting for the upcoming international conference in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces and security services was held Tuesday in Cairo, bringing together Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, Internal Security Forces Director General Major General Raed Abdallah, and representatives from several countries. During the ...