Macron makes surprise Saudi visit as France secures extra diesel supplies

French president meets Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh to discuss energy, security, and infrastructure.

Al JazeeraAl Jazeera Staff2026-10-21 16:58查看原文 ↗

French president meets Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh to discuss energy, security, and infrastructure as cost-of-living protests rage at home.

French President Emmanuel Macron attends a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh [AFP]

French President Emmanuel Macron visited Riyadh on a surprise “solidarity” visit, making him the first Western leader to touch down in Saudi Arabia since the Houthis intensified their attacks this month.

The unannounced trip comes as Saudi Arabia agreed to supply extra diesel to France “for as many months as necessary”, the Elysee Palace told the AFP news agency on Wednesday.

list 1 of 3 France’s Macron says protesters won’t be allowed to ‘cause chaos’

list 2 of 3 What are Italy’s new measures against violent protests?

list 3 of 3 Are the UK, France being pulled into the Saudi-Houthi conflict?

The visit aims to “demonstrate France’s solidarity with the kingdom in the face of the attacks carried out by the Houthis against its territory, and to continue efforts undertaken on securing and diversifying hydrocarbon supplies”, the French presidency said earlier.

The diplomatic push follows days of rioting in France, fuelled by the cost of living, especially as the US-Iran war and Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have kept energy prices high.

Faced with criticism of his Gulf tour at home, Macron told reporters he was just “doing his job” in a bid to “ease tensions” over petrol prices, one of the causes of social unrest in France.

“There must be no sign of febrility,” he said. “I am fulfilling my role. I am at my post.”

Macron met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi capital, and the two agreed to consult on expanding security cooperation and on infrastructure projects to bypass the blockaded strait, the palace said.

It did not say how much extra diesel Saudi Arabia would supply.

The deal follows pledges secured earlier in Macron’s Gulf tour. The presidency said on Tuesday that the United Arab Emirates had committed to about 100,000 tonnes a month , with a further 100,000 tonnes monthly to be secured in Bahrain.

Together with Saudi deliveries, France now has commitments for 295,000 tonnes a month, just more than 10 percent of its consumption, it said.

Meanwhile, France is also sending military assets to Saudi Arabia , under an earlier agreement, to help protect the Red Sea port of Yanbu, which has come under attack from the Iran-backed Houthis, an armed group also known as Ansar Allah (Arabic for Supporters of God).

The United Kingdom also announced on Tuesday that it would deploy fighter jets to help shield the kingdom. Both countries say their support is purely defensive.

Analysts say the moves protect Saudi oil exports that matter to Europe’s energy markets and bolster the Gulf alliance as the US shows reluctance to offer direct military help. They also carry risks, analysts say, potentially drawing the two European states into the protracted Saudi-Houthi conflict.

法国总统在利雅得会见了沙特王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼，讨论能源、安全和基础设施问题，与此同时，国内爆发了抗议生活成本上涨的示威活动。

法国总统马克龙在利雅得的亚玛玛宫会见了沙特王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼。[法新社]

法国总统埃马纽埃尔·马克龙对利雅得进行了出人意料的“声援”访问，使他成为自本月胡塞武装加大袭击力度以来首位踏上沙特阿拉伯土地的西方领导人。

据法新社周三报道，爱丽舍宫表示，沙特阿拉伯同意向法国“在必要时持续数月”供应额外的柴油，而此次未事先宣布的访问正值此时。

列表 1/3 法国总统马克龙表示，不会允许抗议者“制造混乱”

列表 2/3：意大利针对暴力抗议活动的新措施是什么？

问题 3（共 3 题）：英国和法国是否被卷入沙特阿拉伯与胡塞武装的冲突？

法国总统府此前表示，此次访问旨在“展现法国在胡塞武装袭击沙特阿拉伯王国领土问题上与该国的团结，并继续努力保障和多元化油气供应”。

此次外交努力是在法国发生数日骚乱之后进行的，骚乱的导火索是生活成本高昂，尤其是美伊战争和伊朗封锁霍尔木兹海峡导致能源价格居高不下。

面对国内对其海湾之行的批评，马克龙告诉记者，他只是“在履行职责”，试图“缓解”因汽油价格而引发的紧张局势，而汽油价格正是法国社会动荡的原因之一。

“不能有任何发热迹象，”他说。“我正在履行我的职责，我坚守岗位。”

马克龙在沙特首都会见了沙特王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼，双方同意就扩大安全合作以及绕过被封锁海峡的基础设施项目进行磋商，王室表示。