Macron secures extended Saudi diesel supply for France during surprise Riyadh visit

A surprise stop in Riyadh

On Wednesday, 21 October, French President Emmanuel Macron made an unannounced stop in Riyadh, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit lasted about three hours and came at the end of a regional tour that had already taken Macron to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. The Élysée said the two sides agreed that Saudi Arabia would extend the additional diesel shipments it had already provided to France, for as many months as needed. The palace did not say how much diesel the kingdom would supply. The stop was kept secret until the last moment for security reasons, and Al Jazeera reports it was the first visit by a Western leader to the kingdom since the Houthis intensified their attacks earlier in October.

Pledges from the Gulf

The Saudi extension came a day after the French presidency said that Abu Dhabi and Manama would supply more diesel. On Tuesday, 20 October, the presidency said the United Arab Emirates had committed about 100,000 tonnes a month, with a further 100,000 tonnes monthly to be secured in Bahrain. Those Gulf deliveries add up to 200,000 tonnes of diesel a month, on top of an earlier Saudi commitment of 95,000 tonnes for October and November. Including Saudi deliveries, France now has commitments for 295,000 tonnes a month, just over 10% of its consumption, according to the presidency. TotalEnergies will distribute the Gulf volumes inside France, and its chief executive Patrick Pouyanné travelled with Macron.

Energy and security backdrop

France has faced steep fuel price rises since late February, when the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran and Iran then blockaded the Strait of Hormuz. The Élysée said the talks also covered infrastructure projects meant to reduce dependence on that waterway. The French government confirmed about a week earlier a military assistance plan for Saudi Arabia, including personnel and equipment, to reinforce the Yanbu oil complex against attacks by insurgents. The United Kingdom announced on Tuesday, 20 October, that it would deploy fighter jets to help shield the kingdom, and both countries describe their support as purely defensive. dpa reported that a rocket attack on Riyadh airport earlier in October killed 13 people and injured more than 300. Les Echos argues that a separate gas deal negotiated in Doha, for 12 terawatt-hours of liquefied natural gas this winter, is highly uncertain and may not be enough.

Criticism at home

The Gulf tour has drawn criticism in France, where days of rioting over the cost of living had preceded the trip. Al Jazeera reports that Macron told reporters he was simply doing his job, aiming to ease tensions over petrol prices, one of the causes of the unrest. He insisted on the need for calm and restraint:

There must be no sign of febrility.

I am fulfilling my role. I am at my post.

What comes next

Macron and the crown prince agreed to consult on expanding security cooperation, and the two countries will work on infrastructure projects intended to reduce the risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz. The relevant ministers will follow up on these matters, and the Élysée said consultations on security cooperation would take place soon. Pouyanné said, while accompanying the president, that France would not run short of diesel this winter. Whether the Saudi extension will be sufficient for the cold months has not been stated, and no volumes for the extension have been published.