France will send troops, radar and defence systems to protect Yanbu, a key Saudi energy port, President Emmanuel Macron said. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have hit the route with missiles; he said France’s role is to protect the site, not join a conflict.
Macron said France had adequate gas and oil supplies as winter approaches and was working to keep flows from being disrupted, amid domestic pressure over high energy prices. He called a possible US ban on diesel exports “catastrophic” for the global economy and the United States; the White House has denied that such a ban is under consideration.
Macron said Russia was multiplying hostile and criminal acts against European countries and warned France could face strikes like the failed attack in Leipzig. Germany said Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport in August. Macron said he ordered his government to prepare a plan to protect critical infrastructure from drone and cyberattacks; Russia says European allegations of hybrid attacks are baseless.
