President Macron convenes emergency security meeting amid global crisis

On Friday, September 18, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron held a high-level meeting at the Élysée Palace with political leaders and presidential candidates to address the rapidly deteriorating international situation. The session, which included briefings from military and intelligence agencies such as DGSE and DGSI, focused on the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as their direct impact on French security and energy stability.

Following the briefing, President Macron identified the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the destruction of energy infrastructure in Russia and Ukraine as the primary drivers behind historic energy price spikes. To mitigate these effects, France plans to facilitate the peaceful reopening of the Strait through difficult diplomatic channels currently operating between Iran and the United States, offering to provide naval escorts for merchant vessels once an agreement is reached. Furthermore, Macron stated he will urge the European Commission to accelerate natural gas storage efforts across the continent.

Finally, the French President warned of an intensifying Russian hybrid threat against Europe, citing increased hostile actions against European infrastructure and airspace. He emphasized that continued support for Ukraine is inextricably linked to the safety and security of all European nations, calling for immediate, coordinated mobilization at both the national and European levels.