Macron begins Gulf tour to secure oil supplies after violent French protests
French President Emmanuel Macron launched a multi-nation diplomatic tour in Kuwait City on Monday to secure emergency oil and diesel supplies following a wave of violent domestic fuel protests. The high-stakes itinerary directly engages leaders across Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar as regional energy shipments remain severely disrupted by ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran.
Alternative export routes and maritime security dominate high-level talks
Macron was welcomed in Kuwait City by Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ahead of scheduled discussions across the Gulf concluding by Wednesday. The diplomatic mission aims to establish alternative and bypass routes for energy exports and protect maritime shipments through the Gulf, which has faced intense volatility since the US-Iran war began in February.
Domestic unrest in France has triggered more than 2,500 arrests, widespread looting, and the destruction of town halls as demonstrators push back against soaring living costs and fuel prices. Macron acknowledged security and intelligence failures before departing for the region, though he refused the resignation of his interior minister. Compounding these pressures, Houthi attacks targeting Saudi tankers, oil facilities, and Riyadh’s international airport have further restricted regional output.
Francis Perrin, an energy expert at the French Institute for International and Strategic Relations, noted that firm supply commitments from Gulf producers remain unlikely until regional stability returns, dimming immediate prospects for domestic fuel price relief in Europe.
To address long-term transit bottlenecks, France and Britain have assembled an international mission focused on demining operations to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz once a formal agreement is reached between the United States and Iran.
