Photo via aljazeera.com
Macron makes surprise Saudi visit to secure diesel
France locks in extra fuel supplies as president becomes first Western leader in kingdom since Houthi escalation.
What happened
French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Riyadh on October 21 for an unannounced meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, making him the first Western leader to visit Saudi Arabia since Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis intensified attacks earlier this month. The visit lasted less than three hours.
Saudi Arabia agreed to supply France with additional diesel "for as many months as necessary," according to the Élysée Palace. Combined with earlier commitments from the UAE and Bahrain secured during the first leg of Macron's Gulf tour, France now has pledges for 295,000 tonnes of diesel per month—roughly 10 percent of its consumption—helping address record-high prices driven by disruptions to Middle East shipping.
The diplomatic push comes as France grapples with widespread unrest. Violent protests erupted October 17 over rising living costs and fuel prices, which have climbed to €2.37–2.39 per liter due to the ongoing Iran war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Over 500,000 people participated in demonstrations that weekend, with some descending into riots across major cities.
Macron and Crown Prince bin Salman also agreed to consult on expanded security cooperation and infrastructure projects to bypass the blockaded strait, the palace said. France has deployed personnel and assets to protect Saudi Arabia's Yanbu oil terminal on the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, marking an expanded Western military presence in the kingdom amid the escalating Yemen conflict.
Chanakya's Move
Macron is executing a dual-front move: showing Saudi Arabia that France will stand by it militarily and diplomatically during Houthi escalation, while simultaneously using energy deals to ease domestic political pressure at home. He's betting that bilateral energy diplomacy is faster and more reliable than waiting for collective EU action. The risk is fragmenting European energy security coordination and signaling to other suppliers that they can negotiate bilaterally rather than facing a unified European buyer.