President Macron's Gulf tour seeks to secure oil and gas supplies and strengthen defence ties amid domestic unrest and global fuel disruptions.
01Summary
- 01Macron visited Kuwait, UAE, and Bahrain, with Qatar next, signing eight agreements with Kuwait on defence and AI.
- 02The UAE, France's biggest Gulf importer, will supply 100,000 tonnes of diesel monthly; Bahrain agreed to the same volume.
- 03France will send troops and defence systems to Saudi Arabia to protect the Yanbu oil terminal from Houthi attacks.
- 04Over 500,000 people protested in France on 17 October 2026 over budget cuts and energy prices, with 2,500 arrests.
- 05Oil prices exceed $100 a barrel, and up to 20% of French petrol stations have run out of fuel due to Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
02Why it matters
This matters as France faces violent protests and record debt, relying on Gulf energy and arms deals to stabilise its economy and public order.
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