I support the announcement of providing missile‑ and drone‑defense systems to our Cypriot friends. It is an honour for France to respond to Nicosia’s request for support after its aggression by Tehran and its proxies. With our Greek, German, and British allies, we are meeting Cyprus’s legitimate need for protection, which hosts a base already targeted by three Iranian‑made drone attacks. I emphasize that Turkey’s occupation of half the island constitutes a strategic vulnerability for our continent, especially in this period of war. While the Middle East is on fire, France and Europe must weigh all their weight in the Mediterranean and the Levant. We must ensure the safety of our citizens present in the conflict‑affected areas. I am thinking especially of the French in Israel and Lebanon, who have already endured months of intense tension, as well as those caught in uncertainty in Dubai and elsewhere. I offer all my support to the French military who are or will be deployed in the area to honour our international commitments and defend our allies. The ongoing events in the Middle East carry contrasting feelings: hopes here of liberation from the oppression of the mollahs and their militias, fears elsewhere of a spiral of chaos that would add horror to horror. We cannot remain indifferent to the future of a region whose developments will have direct consequences for our continent, in terms of security, combating migration flows, and geopolitics. European leaders must be present in this crisis to protect their peoples. They must engage directly with their American and Israeli counterparts, as well as all our regional partners, to best anticipate the consequences of this new configuration, rather than hiding behind an “international law” now neglected by international powers that no longer feel bound by multilateralism. European impotence and isolation cannot last when European interests and territory are directly targeted. As we become the forgotten ones of the 21st century, we must finally reconnect with a policy of military, economic, and civilizational power, while affirming our political will inside and on the international stage. Suffering cannot become our destiny. __📲 Relay on X! 👉 Join Identité Libertés