Macron arrives in Riyadh, pledges French military support against Houthi attacks

RIYADH — French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for talks with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, pledging France's support for Saudi Arabia's defense against escalating Houthi attacks.Speaking in Doha before departing for Riyadh, Macron said Paris stood firmly alongside the Kingdom in safeguarding its security and defending itself against the attacks.Macron confirmed that France had deployed military personnel and defensive capabilities over the past eight days to support Saudi Arabia's efforts to protect its territory from attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militias."We are moving forward with Saudi Arabia in this direction, and therefore we have a defensive contribution to help," Macron said.The French president also revealed that Paris had proposed participating in the rehabilitation and protection of Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, which has sustained damage from Houthi attacks.Macron's visit marks the first by a Western leader to Saudi Arabia since the Houthis intensified their attacks on the Kingdom earlier this month, targeting civilian infrastructure, aviation facilities and critical energy installations.The French presidency said the visit was intended to demonstrate France's solidarity with Saudi Arabia while continuing efforts to secure and diversify hydrocarbon supplies."The president of the republic is travelling to Saudi Arabia this afternoon to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman," the Élysée Palace said in a statement.The visit aims to "demonstrate France's solidarity with the Kingdom in the face of the attacks carried out by the Houthis against its territory, and to continue efforts undertaken on securing and diversifying hydrocarbon supplies," it added.Macron arrived in the Kingdom following a regional tour that included Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar, where he discussed strengthening France's strategic defense partnerships and securing energy supplies.In Saudi Arabia, the unprecedented escalation of Houthi attacks has disrupted aviation operations, forced the suspension of flights at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and contributed to the postponement of the 10th Future Investment Initiative conference, originally scheduled for October 26–29.Macron's arrival follows diplomatic consultations between Saudi and French officials earlier this week.On Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, for talks on bilateral relations, regional security and the repercussions of the ongoing escalation.According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the two ministers reviewed the strategic partnership between their countries and explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.Barrot reaffirmed France's condemnation of the Houthi militia's terrorist attacks and expressed his country's solidarity with Saudi Arabia.The ministers also emphasized the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts to ensure the security of regional waterways, protect freedom of navigation and support comprehensive, sustainable solutions to ongoing regional crises.