Macron visits Cyprus, talks Lebanon with Netanyahu

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Cyprus on Monday to discuss regional security, while Paris deployed warships to the Mediterranean and the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran stretched into a second week.

Macron, who landed in Paphos earlier on Monday, met Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for talks.

European Union member Cyprus was targeted last week by Iranian-made drones, leading Macron to order France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean, as well as a frigate and air defence units to the island nation.

Macron was scheduled to visit the Charles de Gaulle on Monday afternoon. France's flagship is currently stationed off the coast of Crete, according to the Elysee.

The Elysee has said the visit aims to show "solidarity" and detail moves to "strengthen security around Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean".

Macron said he had spoken to his U.S. and Iranian counterparts on Sunday ahead of the trip.

Macron also spoke on Monday morning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon, the Elysee said.

Media reports said Macron asked Netanyahu not to expand the military operations in Lebanon.

He had already spoken with Netanyahu last week for the first time since the summer of 2025.

During his visit to Cyprus, the French leader was also to discuss freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

There have been numerous attacks targeting the key waterway in the Gulf since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran started on February 28.

A government spokesman for Cyprus, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, has said Macron's visit will allow the leaders of Cyprus, Greece and France to assess the "high level of coordination" between their nations.