Emmanuel Macron opens Gulf tour in Kuwait to secure fuel

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kuwait on Monday for the first stop of a Gulf tour designed to win extra fuel supplies for France.

His trip covers four countries: Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. It lasts from October 19 to 21.

In Kuwait, he plans talks with Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on strengthening bilateral relations.

Why Emmanuel Macron wants Gulf fuel

The presidency said the visit will cover regional stability, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and energy security.

Shipping disruption in the strait risks deepening an energy crisis. Rising living costs have also fed unrest back in France.

Macron’s office said he will seek promises of extra diesel and petrol. A presidential adviser said the goal is more volume for French consumers, which should indirectly help prices.

Executives from TotalEnergies and Engie, the two largest French energy groups, travel with him.

Talks should also address the safety of sea routes, more varied energy sources and other ways to move liquid hydrocarbons.

Doubt before the departure

There was some doubt about the trip. The presidential palace said on Sunday that Macron might stay home to deal with the fallout from nationwide rioting and looting.

That unrest grew out of marches about school conditions and the cost of living. In a televised address that evening, however, Macron said he would go.

He said he had started several initiatives abroad to guarantee fuel and gas for France, and that he would keep doing so through his Gulf visits.

Emmanuel Macron skips Saudi Arabia this time

Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer that Houthi forces often target, is not on the itinerary. The presidential palace said Paris and Riyadh stay in ongoing contact, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Paris in August.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot planned to reach Riyadh on Sunday evening and renew France’s support for the kingdom. Last month, France also sent strictly defensive military assets to help protect the Yanbu oil terminal.

Ties between France and Kuwait

Kuwait’s state news agency called the visit a milestone marking 65 years of relations. The countries set up diplomatic ties in 1961, after Kuwait’s independence.

Since then they have built cooperation in defence, security, trade, investment and education. France also keeps troops in the Gulf and has defence partnerships with several states there.

On the eve of the visit, Kuwait’s defence minister met the French ambassador, Olivier Gauvin, to talk about military ties.

The health minister, Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi, also saw Gauvin to discuss cooperation in healthcare and exchanges of expertise.

Both sides stressed continued coordination and wanted to build on their long relationship.

Beyond energy, Emmanuel Macron hopes to expand French partnerships in defence, technology, infrastructure and investment. For Kuwait, the agenda included defence, infrastructure and health.

He was due in the UAE later on Monday to meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan about defence, security and artificial intelligence. Emirati capital is developing a data centre in France under a 50 billion euro agreement between the two countries.

Bahrain and Qatar follow. In both capitals, talks will cover trade and defence, and Qatar also hosts a climate event that Macron is expected to attend.

For Emmanuel Macron, the tour mixes diplomacy with a hard domestic aim: easing fuel pressure on French households.