Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, began his tour of several countries in the Persian Gulf with a visit to Kuwait on Monday. He then proceeded to the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, where he met and discussed with senior officials of these countries.
Macron's Trip Objective: Energy Supply and Economic Cooperation
This trip aims to secure oil and fuel and strengthen economic and defense cooperation amid widespread protests in France due to rising living costs and fuel prices. Macron attributed these domestic repercussions to the war in the Middle East and spoke about his efforts to mitigate their impact on the French economy, initiating this tour to secure fuel to reduce domestic unrest in his country.
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Significant Discussions with Gulf Officials
In his speech to the French people, Macron emphasized the protesters' concerns regarding high living costs and rising fuel prices. He stated, "The government has undertaken several international initiatives to ensure fuel and gas supply." In this context, Macron met with Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, just hours after his speech in Kuwait on Monday. This meeting was the main focus of discussions regarding regional and international issues.
Subsequently, Macron traveled to the UAE and met with Mohammed bin Zayed, the President of the UAE, in Abu Dhabi. The two sides exchanged views on the framework for strategic defense cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations. Additionally, discussions were held regarding regional developments and their impact on maritime security and global energy supply.
Macron also met with Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, in Manama. These discussions focused on strengthening defense and security cooperation, and a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy was also signed.
At the end of his trip, the French President met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, the Emir of Qatar, and discussed strengthening friendly relations and bilateral cooperation. The Élysée Palace announced that Macron received commitments from the UAE and Bahrain to supply larger quantities of diesel fuel for France, which will bring the total diesel supply for his country to 295,000 tons per month.
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