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As the United States is in its 32nd day of war against Iran, tension is rising between Washington and Paris. Donald Trump points to a lack of cooperation and accuses France of closing its airspace to American planes carrying weapons, a decision that would complicate American military operations.
On the 5th week of the war in Iran, the dispute escalates between Donald Trump and France. The American president expresses his grievances on his social network: “France has been very uncooperative, the United States will remember this.”
Why this discontent? Because France has banned the overflight of its territory to any plane carrying weapons destined to strike Iran. This was the case on Saturday, March 28, with an Israeli plane filled with American ammunition. The shortest route for planes coming from the United States passes through France due to the curvature of the Earth. With Paris’ ban, US Air Force pilots have to fly further south, which takes longer. The same scenario occurs when Americans take off from Great Britain, where some of their bombers are stationed. There too, flight over France is faster. But when it’s prohibited, they have to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar.
An expert explains: “Having to bypass France will mean hours and hours of additional flight time, round trip, since these planes will not land at their destination, they will complete their mission and return, especially for B-52 or B-1 bombers. So overall, it significantly complicates the lives of Americans.”
The French presidency maintains its policy and expresses surprise on March 31 at this sudden bad mood from Donald Trump: “We are surprised by this tweet. France has not changed its position since day one.”
However, France has allowed American tanker aircraft to land at Istres Air Base in the south of the country because they are not directly involved in the strikes on Iran.
