France ready to defend partners, Foreign Minister says

France signals readiness to defend allies and safeguard its nationals in the Middle East, with military and evacuation measures in place amid rising tensions.

Reuters

March 3, 2026

France ready to defend partners, Foreign Minister says

FILE PHOTO: French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (not pictured) as they meet in Baghdad, Iraq, February 5, 2026.

Ahmed Saad/Reuters

France is ready to defend its partners if they request help after Iranian retaliatory strikes and ireserves its right to intervene, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday.

"This war... is dragging a number of countries in the region into the conflict with which we have relations, defence agreements, and interests, including military bases," Barrot told French broadcaster BFM TV.

He added that French Rafale fighter jets carried out air operations to secure the skies above France's bases in the region. Around 400,000 French nationals are currently in the countries affected by the crisis in the Middle East and the French government is ready to fly back those most at risk using both commercial and military flights, Barrot said.

-Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Dominique Vidalon/Reuters