The French presidency says additional Saudi deliveries to France have no fixed end date, while Gulf commitments now cover just over 10% of the country’s monthly diesel consumption.
The presidency put the combined Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini commitments at 295,000 tonnes a month. The United Arab Emirates committed about 100,000 tonnes monthly, while Bahrain is expected to supply another 100,000 tonnes. The Saudi arrangement follows earlier Gulf diesel pledges announced during French President Emmanuel Macron’s tour.
Macron met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Wednesday during an unannounced addition to his itinerary. The French presidency said the visit was intended to show solidarity with Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks and to advance efforts to secure and diversify France’s hydrocarbon supplies. Al Jazeera said Macron was the first Western leader to reach Saudi Arabia after the Houthis increased attacks earlier this month.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the talks covered ties and cooperation between the countries, as well as regional and international developments and security coordination.
Al Jazeera reported that Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has kept energy prices high. The outlet also linked the visit to cost-of-living unrest in France, where petrol prices were a source of public concern. In Doha, Macron defended the Gulf tour as an effort to ease pressure over fuel costs.
According to Al Jazeera, France is providing military support under an earlier agreement to defend Yanbu, a port on the Red Sea. Britain said it would deploy fighter jets in support of Saudi Arabia, and both governments described their actions as defensive. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera said the moves could help protect Saudi oil exports important to European energy markets, while risking a deeper French and British role in the Saudi-Houthi conflict.
Macron said earlier releases from France’s strategic fuel reserves could start lowering pump prices in early November if broader conditions stay steady.
