French President Macron Launches Gulf Tour to Secure Energy Supplies Amid Domestic Unrest

President Emmanuel Macron embarked on a Gulf tour on Monday, seeking to secure oil and diesel supplies to curb rising energy costs, following a weekend marred by violent protests over the high cost of living.

After condemning the “unbridled” violence in a Sunday evening address, Macron arrived in Kuwait, an OPEC member, where he was received by Emir Sheikh Mishal Al‑Ahmad Al‑Jaber Al‑Sabah.

His itinerary includes visits to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar by Wednesday, with the goal of bolstering economic and defence ties in a Gulf region destabilised by the ongoing US‑Iran conflict.

While acknowledging security and intelligence shortcomings, Macron declined his interior minister’s resignation despite more than 2,500 arrests and some of the worst civil unrest France has seen in years, which saw town halls and shops looted and set ablaze.

Before departing for Kuwait, Macron stressed that the visit was essential to “secure our supplies,” noting that protesters had voiced concern over fuel prices.

Discussions in Kuwait centred on delivering pre‑positioned stocks of kerosene and diesel from Oman to the French overseas territories of Réunion and Mayotte, according to the presidency.

Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin signed a letter of intent on defence cooperation with her Kuwaiti counterpart, which also covered arms sales, a French delegation member said.

Airbus signed a letter of intent to support the renewal of Kuwait Airways’ fleet and to cooperate on maintenance and training.

Constitutional expert Benjamin Morel warned that the tour “may give an impression of normality… but may also appear out of touch and suggest a kind of power vacuum.”

– ‘Alternative’ energy routes –

The French presidency said the trip’s “goal is to secure a certain number of commitments” on diesel and oil volumes.

Macron is accompanied by senior executives from France’s two largest energy groups, TotalEnergies and Engie.

The G7, chaired this year by France, agreed in early October to release up to 100 million barrels from strategic reserves to ease market pressure.

Crude oil prices have surged over the past eight months as Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, the primary conduit for Gulf energy exports.

Houthi forces in Yemen have added further strain by attacking Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, striking oil sites in the kingdom and carrying out deadly assaults on Riyadh’s international airport.

Francis Perrin, an energy expert at the French Institute for International and Strategic Relations, said he did not expect Macron’s visit to influence fuel prices.

“The Gulf Arab states are very willing to supply the world, including the French market, but they find it hard to make firm commitments until the region stabilises,” he added.

Macron will hold talks with Gulf leaders, including the UAE president and Qatar’s emir, on ways to “secure” maritime shipments and to develop “alternative and bypass routes” for energy exports, the presidency said.

France and Britain have formed an international mission to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, principally through demining operations, pending an agreement between the United States and Iran on the waterway.

However, the two sides remain deadlocked eight months after hostilities began.

The French president will also discuss defence cooperation after Gulf nations were struck by thousands of Iranian missiles and drones.

France deployed its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the spring, accompanied by Rafale fighter jets, a frigate and air‑defence assets.

Macron also dispatched French troops to protect Yanbu, a Saudi Red Sea oil terminal that has become a vital export conduit.

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