Macron Secures UAE and Bahrain Diesel to Ease French Energy Crisis
French President Emmanuel Macron secured commitments for 200,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during a Gulf tour aimed at countering soaring domestic fuel prices and civil unrest.
France Secures Diesel Commitments from Gulf Nations
France obtained commitments for approximately 100,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates during the tour, according to the French presidency. The Elysee Palace indicated that another 100,000 tonnes per month will be locked in later today during a scheduled stop in Bahrain. These new agreements follow existing supply commitments from Saudi Arabia, bringing France’s total secured monthly volume from the region to 295,000 tonnes. This total accounts for just over 10 percent of French national consumption.
The French presidency also noted that Kuwait has given explicit assurances to supply diesel and kerosene to the French overseas territories of Mayotte and Réunion located in the Indian Ocean. These shipments will travel via Oman to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, talks remain underway with regional nations to reduce maritime insurance prices so that shipping companies can move larger quantities through the strait at lower costs.
Strait of Hormuz Blockade and Strategic Reserves
Emmanuel Macron’s tour of key energy suppliers in the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar comes as those nations experience severe disruption following the outbreak of the US-Iran war in February. Crude oil prices have surged during the eight-month conflict as Iran maintains a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the primary exit route for Gulf energy exports. In response to the supply squeeze, G7 countries agreed in early October to draw up to 100 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves to ease market pressure.
Domestically, the soaring fuel costs triggered a weekend of violent protests across France, stoking broader economic anxiety and bolstering the European political right.
