French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed France’s support for Saudi Arabia amid escalating Houthi attacks, meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh as regional security concerns intensify. The visit comes after Houthi attacks targeted Saudi territory and critical infrastructure, including Riyadh’s airport, raising concerns about civilian safety and the security of vital energy facilities. Footage of Macron’s arrival shows him exchanging greetings with the Saudi crown prince and other officials before joining discussions in a formal diplomatic setting. The meeting underscores the close strategic relationship between Paris and Riyadh as both governments confront growing instability across the Middle East. French officials have condemned the attacks and pledged support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect its territory and essential infrastructure. The discussions also reflect wider concerns about regional security, energy supplies and the potential consequences of further escalation. 

Beyond expressing solidarity, Macron’s Gulf diplomacy is aimed at strengthening cooperation on energy security, defense and regional stability at a time when disruptions across the Middle East are affecting international markets and supply routes. France has already committed to supporting the defense and rehabilitation of Saudi Arabia’s strategic East-West oil pipeline corridor near Yanbu, which provides an alternative route for transporting crude oil toward the Red Sea. Macron has also emphasized the importance of securing and diversifying energy supplies, including liquefied natural gas, as the wider regional crisis places pressure on global energy flows. For Saudi Arabia, cooperation with France offers an additional avenue for strengthening defensive capabilities and protecting infrastructure vital to its economy. However, military support alone may not prevent further attacks, and Macron has also called for renewed dialogue to reduce tensions with the Houthis. The key question is whether diplomatic engagement and expanded security cooperation can contain the escalation before it causes further damage to regional stability and international energy supplies.