Macron lands in Riyadh, the first Western leader since Houthi attacks escalated
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh for a surprise stop, becoming the first Western head of state to visit Saudi Arabia after the Houthi rebel group stepped up its attacks.
Emmanuel Macron touched down in Riyadh on Wednesday, marking the first visit by a Western leader since the Houthi rebels in Yemen escalated attacks on Saudi territory. After a reception by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz at King Khalid International Airport, Macron sat down with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss security cooperation. The French government framed the trip as a demonstration of solidarity and a commitment to securing and diversifying hydrocarbon supplies.
France has already deployed soldiers, radar and defence systems to protect the Yanbu oil complex, stressing a purely defensive role. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition said it shot down multiple Houthi drones aimed at the Eastern province, Medina and the Red Sea port of Yanbu, which the rebels deny targeting. The visit follows a Gulf itinerary that included stops in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and comes as France seeks to deepen defence ties, including potential Rafale fighter sales.
Why it matters
The visit signals heightened Western military support for Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks threaten regional oil supplies.
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