France ready to defend partners, Foreign Minister says

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot gives a press conference after a crisis meeting, in Paris, France, March 2, 2026. Thibault Camus/Pool via REUTERS

Source: Pool

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.

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By Reuters