French President Emmanuel Macron made a surprise visit to Riyadh, becoming the first Western leader to set foot in Saudi Arabia since Houthi forces stepped up attacks this month. The unannounced trip came as Saudi Arabia agreed to supply France with additional diesel "for as many months as needed," the Elysee Palace told AFP on Wednesday.
France said the visit was meant to "demonstrate France's solidarity with the kingdom in the face of attacks carried out by the Houthis on its territory, while continuing efforts to secure and diversify hydrocarbon supplies."
The diplomatic move follows days of unrest in France stemming from rising living costs, particularly as the US-Iran war and Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz keep energy prices elevated.
Facing domestic criticism over his Gulf tour, Macron told reporters he was simply "doing my job" to "ease tensions" over fuel prices, one of the triggers of social unrest in France. "There must be no sign of jitters," he said. "I am fulfilling my role. I am in my place."
In the Saudi capital, Macron met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two sides agreed to consult on expanding security cooperation and on infrastructure projects to bypass the blockaded strait, according to the royal palace. Saudi Arabia did not, however, specify how much additional diesel it would provide.
Macron's Gulf tour
The deal builds on commitments secured earlier during Macron's Gulf tour. The Elysee said Tuesday that the United Arab Emirates had pledged about 100,000 tonnes of diesel per month, with a further 100,000 tonnes per month to be secured from Bahrain. Together with the Saudi supply, France now has commitments totaling 295,000 tonnes per month, equivalent to more than 10% of its consumption.
France is also deploying military assets to Saudi Arabia under an earlier agreement to help protect the Red Sea port of Yanbu, which has been attacked by the Iran-backed Houthis. The Houthis are also known as Ansar Allah (Arabic for "Supporters of God").
The United Kingdom announced Tuesday that it too would deploy fighter jets to help defend the kingdom. Both countries insisted their support is purely defensive. Analysts say the moves protect Saudi oil exports — vital to European energy markets — and shore up the Gulf alliance at a time when the United States appears reluctant to offer direct military support. But they also carry risks, analysts say, potentially drawing the two European countries into the long-running conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
