The key facts
- France agreed on LNG supplies from Qatar and diesel from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE — equivalent to 10% of consumption
- Since October 13, French military personnel have been deployed to protect the port of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia
- Macron called Trump's words blaming migrants for the protests 'stupid'
Outcomes of the Gulf tour
French President Emmanuel Macron has concluded a three-day tour of five Persian Gulf countries — Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The key result, in the wording of his advisers, was securing 'in-kind compensation' for France's role as a reliable security partner: LNG supplies from Qatar and diesel fuel from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, equivalent to 10% of French consumption. 'When you have shown that you are there in difficult times, it is easier to achieve visibility,' Macron told journalists before departing from Doha on Wednesday.
Defence agreements
Macron confirmed that defence cooperation held an important place on the agenda: with the UAE, an 'important intergovernmental agreement' was signed on a joint strategy for a new generation of Dassault Rafale fighters, and with Qatar, agreements were reached on modernising its Rafale fleet. The final leg of the trip — to Saudi Arabia — was kept secret until the departure from Doha, probably for security reasons amid Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport and infrastructure. The hour-long meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman yielded, according to the Élysée Palace, commitments to supply diesel to France 'for as many months as necessary'.
Military support for Saudi Arabia
Macron said that since October 13 France has kept personnel and assets in Saudi Arabia to help restore and protect pipeline facilities up to Yanbu that were damaged by Houthi strikes. He also called for the resumption of talks with the Houthis and a reduction in tensions. Earlier, information from the Foreign Ministry and the Élysée Palace about the start of the mission had contradicted each other; the Defence Ministry refused to disclose operational details. In March, France had already sent air defence systems to the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.
Limited influence on US-Iran talks
Despite its close ties with the Gulf, France's influence on the ongoing talks between Iran and the US remains limited. When asked about a specific mediation proposal to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim, Macron did not answer directly, instead pointing to the Franco-British initiative for an international naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been stalled since April. He said he had discussed the details with Doha and that a response could be expected 'in the coming hours and days', in particular from Iran.
Domestic context and controversy
The tour was also aimed at a domestic audience: France has been rocked by protests for weeks, caused in part by high energy prices following Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. For the first time since his Sunday address to the nation, Macron did not speak publicly about the protests. His harshest words were directed at Donald Trump, who blamed migrants for the protests: Macron called these comments 'stupid' and added that leaders 'campaigning' on the basis of AI-generated content about the situation in France are 'campaigning at our expense' — comments that, as The National notes, may also have referred to Benjamin Netanyahu, whose relations with Paris have deteriorated since France recognised a Palestinian state. Critics accused the president of being out of touch with reality for continuing the trip; Macron replied that he had no regrets: 'What we are doing here is important for our citizens, which is why I decided to keep it.' New protests are scheduled for Saturday.
