Saudi Arabia agrees to extend diesel supplies to France

Saudi Arabia has agreed to extend diesel supplies to France on an “as-needed” basis, following meetings between President Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. This agreement, combined with previous commitments from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, brings France’s total monthly diesel commitments from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to 295,000 tonnes, representing over 10 percent of its national consumption.

To mitigate risks associated with potential blockades of the Strait of Hormuz due to regional conflicts, the nations are pursuing infrastructure projects to bypass the waterway. Specifically, shipments from Kuwait to French overseas territories like Mayotte and Reunion are expected to transit via Oman.

These energy deals follow significant domestic unrest in France, where protests over the rising cost of living have intensified. The diplomatic efforts aim to stabilize fuel prices and secure energy corridors that avoid primary conflict zones, diversifying France's supply chain through the Red Sea or land pipelines.