The French President is on a tour of the Arabian Gulf that includes 4 countries

Listen to the article. The audio text is automated, generated by an automated system

France is moving diplomatically on more than one front in the Middle East, in light of the escalation of regional tensions and their repercussions on energy security, maritime navigation, and stability. Paris seeks to intensify its contacts with Gulf leaders, in parallel with supporting Lebanese institutions, strengthening security cooperation, and pushing toward political solutions that prevent the expansion of confrontations in the region.

Since yesterday, Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron has been conducting a Gulf tour that ends on October 21, where he will visit Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar. His tour will focus on regional developments and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to the security of energy supplies and the strengthening of strategic and economic partnerships with the Gulf states.

Macron is accompanied by his Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, and the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Armies and Veterans Affairs, Alice Ruffaut, who visited Saudi Arabia the day before yesterday, after a similar visit to Beirut, as part of French moves to support Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability, and discuss security arrangements for the next stage.

A European mission to support Lebanon and enhance the capabilities of the army

French Foreign Ministry spokesman, Pascal Confavro, said in statements to Al Arabiya.net/Al Hadath. Net, the European Union adopted the decision to establish the European Union Mission to Support Lebanon, which will continue for a period of no less than three years, and will provide support to the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces, through training and capacity strengthening.

He added that the mission will include two parts, civilian and military, and will contribute to monitoring and securing land borders, enhancing maritime security and intelligence capabilities, in addition to supporting the Internal Security Forces, allowing the Lebanese army to focus on its basic tasks.

He stressed that France continued to support Lebanon's sovereignty, and to work with its partners, especially the Europeans, to avoid a security vacuum with the expected withdrawal of UNIFIL, and to prevent any new escalation in the country.

Paris: No involvement in the conflict with the Houthis

Turning to developments in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Confafro stressed that the Houthi attacks in Yemen and against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia threaten the stability of the Middle East, global supplies and energy security, stressing that Paris strongly condemned the recent attacks that targeted Riyadh Airport and other civilian sites, which resulted in civilian casualties and hundreds of wounded, including a French woman.

He added that France renews its solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and has confirmed its continued support in defending its lands and facilities, referring to Paris’ announcement on September 24 of last year to send military means to protect the Yanbu Energy Facility, which is the main Saudi terminal for exporting crude oil on the Red Sea.

He stressed that the French approach is purely defensive, and aims to avoid a new rise in global energy prices, stressing that Paris does not seek to get involved in the conflict, but rather to prevent a new escalation in the region that conflicts with everyone’s interests.

In terms of navigation security, he pointed to France's continued participation in the European defensive operation (ASPEDS) in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, through the deployment of a frigate to protect civilian ships.

He pointed out that France, in the UN Security Council and in coordination with its partners in the G7, called on the Houthis to stop all military activities, and also continued to support the efforts of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to reach a lasting peace through a comprehensive political process under the auspices of the United Nations.

Paris continues its military cooperation with Baghdad

In Iraq, the French spokesman revealed that Paris had returned the last of its forces that were working within the framework of the international coalition against ISIS, after the coalition’s official withdrawal from Iraq on September 30.

He pointed out that the French President and the Iraqi Prime Minister agreed, during the latter’s visit to Paris on September 13 and 14, to continue and deepen military cooperation, especially strengthening Iraqi capabilities to protect the borders and support Iraq’s sovereignty over its lands, within a bilateral framework that respects the sovereignty of the two countries, provided that the details of military cooperation will be agreed upon later.

Energy security and strategic partnerships are on the agenda of the Gulf Round

Barrow and Rufo had met in Beirut with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Army Commander General Rudolf Heikal, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, along with the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa.

In their meetings, they focused on ways to support the Lebanese army, avoid a security vacuum with the expected withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and prevent a new escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

Their visit to Lebanon also coincided with the French President's tour to the Gulf, in which he will visit four Gulf countries in the context of strengthening strategic partnerships with them.

A source in the Elysee revealed to Al Arabiya.net/Al Hadath.net that Macron's tour aims to intensify contacts with the leaders of the region in support of the return of stability and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to securing and diversifying sources of energy supplies and transportation methods, and reducing the repercussions of the energy crisis on the daily lives of the French.

Paris also seeks to strengthen its strategic and economic partnerships with the Gulf countries, expand the presence of French companies in the region and attract Gulf investments to France, as well as developing cooperation in the fields of energy, defence, security, technology and international issues, according to the previous source.