President Emmanuel Macron says France will deploy military personnel and defence equipment to protect the key Red Sea energy hub amid missile attacks.
Web Desk: France will send military personnel and defence systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, French President Emmanuel Macron said as security concerns around the kingdom’s energy infrastructure intensify.
Macron said the French deployment would include soldiers, radar systems and defence equipment to protect the strategically important site. He stressed that the purpose was to safeguard the facility rather than draw France into the wider conflict.
Yanbu is a key energy route
Yanbu is an important hub for Saudi Arabia’s oil exports and energy infrastructure on the Red Sea.
The port provides an alternative route for Saudi crude exports, allowing oil to reach international markets without relying entirely on routes through the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Recent attacks affecting Saudi energy infrastructure have increased concerns over the security of the Red Sea export route. Reuters reported that attacks had disrupted flows through Yanbu and contributed to changes in Saudi Arabia’s oil-export patterns.
Houthi attacks raise security concerns
The French announcement comes amid intensified attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis against Saudi targets.
Saudi-led coalition forces have reported intercepting ballistic missiles launched towards areas including Yanbu and Taif. The attacks have raised concerns over the security of Saudi energy facilities and regional shipping routes.
France’s planned deployment therefore comes as Saudi Arabia faces increased pressure to protect critical energy infrastructure.
Macron says deployment is defensive
Macron said France would provide military resources specifically to protect the Yanbu site.
“We are going to send military resources, that is to say, soldiers, radar systems and defence systems, to protect this site,” he said in a television interview, according to Reuters.
He said the move was not intended to involve France in the wider conflict.
The French decision adds another layer of international military support around Saudi Arabia as attacks on the kingdom increase.
Wider regional security concerns
The Yanbu development comes amid broader tensions across the Middle East, with attacks affecting energy infrastructure and commercial shipping.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan and Egypt have also recently affirmed Riyadh’s right to defend itself under international law and called for safe navigation in the region. The countries said diplomacy and dialogue remained necessary to address regional conflicts.
France has separately been working on proposals concerning freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, another critical route for global energy supplies.
Energy markets remain under pressure
Disruptions to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea export infrastructure have already affected the movement of crude.
Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia increased exports from its eastern Gulf terminals following disruption to the East-West Pipeline, while oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz also increased.
The developments underline the wider economic significance of protecting energy routes in and around the Red Sea and Gulf.
