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Macron makes surprise stop in Riyadh, puts off Lebanon army conference until after Israel votes
The French president added Saudi Arabia to his Gulf tour to show solidarity after Houthi attacks, while saying France had secured Qatari gas for the winter.
Key points
- Emmanuel Macron landed in Riyadh on an unannounced visit to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- He said a conference to support the Lebanese army would be held after Israel's election.
- France has secured two terawatt-hours of Qatari LNG a month for the winter, he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron flew into Riyadh on Wednesday on a visit that had not been announced, adding Saudi Arabia to a Gulf tour that has so far been dominated by France’s hunt for fuel.
Macron was due to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The stop was meant to show France’s “solidarity” with the kingdom after weeks of Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports, oil sites and cities. Britain has already sent Typhoon jets to help defend Saudi skies.
The tour’s other purpose is closer to home. Macron is trying to lock in diesel, petrol and gas supplies as rising energy prices fuel street protests across France. Speaking earlier in the day, he said France had secured gas from Qatar for the cold months. “We secured during the winter period the equivalent of two terawatt-hours per month of LNG,” he said.
Lebanon conference on hold
Macron also said France would organise a conference to support the Lebanese army “in the coming weeks”, but only after Israel’s general election on 27 October. Holding it before the vote would be “useless”, he said.
The Lebanese army is central to Western plans to stabilise southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops still hold positions and Hezbollah has not given up its weapons.
Earlier on the trip Macron visited Kuwait, where the two countries signed defence and investment agreements, and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which each agreed to supply France with diesel.