Background: The shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil has escalated operations, with Russian Navy vessels escorting tankers through the Baltic Sea and English Channel, and Spain reporting a fivefold increase off the Canary Islands. A new ACLED report describes the fleet as having evolved from a sanctions-evasion tool into a flexible platform for hybrid warfare, including espionage, intimidation, and sabotage. The fleet, estimated at 1,000–3,200 vessels, transports up to 80% of Russia's seaborne crude exports using shell companies, false registrations, and disabled tracking. Crews are recruited via WhatsApp, communications rely on Starlink, payments use cryptocurrency, and ships manipulate or disable Automatic Identification Systems. The Baltic Sea is the focal point, with over 2,300 Russian-affiliated vessels entering between February 2024 and February 2025, and more than 16,000 gaps in tracking signals recorded. Recent incidents include the Finnish boarding of the Fitburg after an undersea cable damage on New Year's Eve 2025 (sanctioned Russian steel found onboard), French seizure of the tanker Pushpa off Denmark in September 2025, and Swedish jamming of a reconnaissance drone launched near Malmö in February 2026 against the French carrier Charles de Gaulle, traced to the Russian intelligence vessel Zhigulevsk. European states have launched Baltic Sentry and Nordic Warden, but enforcement remains limited, with eight enforcement actions recorded since late 2024. Russia has adapted by escorting tankers with warships, reflagging vessels under the Russian registry, and using military-linked personnel aboard commercial tankers.

Background: France deployed the Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group toward the Strait of Hormuz for a potential multinational maritime security mission amid the Iran war. The French Navy's flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle transited the Suez Canal and is now prepositioned near the Gulf of Aden, close to the Strait of Hormuz. The deployment was accelerated after Iranian drone attacks on a French base in the UAE in early March, reinforcing French presence in the region amid tensions with Iran. The carrier is operating at full power with its embarked air group and escort vessels, continuing its operational mission as part of the La Fayette 26 deployment.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen stated that NATO should reorient its mission toward combating Islamist fundamentalism, which she considers a greater threat. She reiterated her pledge to withdraw France from NATO's integrated military command if elected president in 2027, though she indicated this would not occur until after the war in Ukraine ends, contradicting a previous statement by party president Jordan Bardella. The comments highlight ongoing debate within France and the alliance about NATO's strategic priorities and France's role.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reaffirmed France's commitment to NATO, calling proposals to leave the alliance 'completely irresponsible.' He highlighted France's role in the 'Coalition of the Willing' with the UK, which is developing future security guarantees for Ukraine to ensure a lasting peace once achieved.

Philippe Juvin, LR deputy and budget rapporteur, criticized the government's spending approach to the fuel crisis, calling for 10-12 billion euros in credit cancellations to avoid further debt. He argues that the government's targeted aid, while positive, is insufficient and risks fiscal sustainability. Juvin warns that the government's targeted fuel aid, exceeding 1 billion euros, is insufficient and risks fiscal sustainability. He calls for 10-12 billion euros in credit cancellations to avoid further debt, arguing that each crisis cannot be addressed with more public spending. Juvin insists that any new aid must be offset by spending cuts elsewhere, rejecting higher taxes or more debt as alternatives.

French Public Accounts Minister David Amiel confirmed the government will freeze the €74 billion envelope for general employer social security tax breaks, rejecting an automatic increase linked to the June 1 minimum wage hike. The decision, justified as targeted crisis management, has drawn criticism from business groups who call it a 'double penalty' for employers facing both higher wages and frozen relief.

France maintained its position as Europe's leading destination for foreign direct investment for the seventh consecutive year with 852 projects in 2025, according to EY's European Attractiveness Survey. However, FDI fell 17% year-on-year due to political uncertainty from snap elections, though job creation linked to foreign investment dropped only 4% versus the European average of 25%. France led Europe in AI investment with a 26% increase in projects, and was among the top three countries for defence investment alongside the UK and Ukraine. Growth also occurred in low-carbon energy sectors. Investors flagged concerns over regulatory complexity, taxation, and political stability. Industrial projects accounted for 42% of total FDI but added only 1,376 net new jobs.

France is leveraging its dialogue with China to urge Beijing to use its privileged relationship with Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux highlighted Russia's deepened dependence on China since the full-scale invasion and linked this to France's G7 presidency priorities, which focus on addressing major global imbalances, especially economic ones. He also stressed the need for Europe to define its own approach amid strengthening US-China confrontation.

Background: Over 200,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since 2018, with the UK and France boosting enforcement. Today: Belgium has intercepted over 400 migrants attempting the crossing in 2026, up from zero in 2025, as smugglers shift operations from France following a crackdown. Local authorities in coastal towns like Middelkerke report well-organized boat launches from Belgian beaches, and the government is increasing patrols and detentions, while NGOs criticize the punitive approach.

France's main farm union FNSEA has submitted nearly 300 amendments to the government's emergency agriculture bill, drafted in response to farmer protests. The union's lobbying contrasts with the more discreet approaches of the Coordination Rurale and the Confédération Paysanne, highlighting unequal influence in the legislative process.