Macron begins three-day Gulf tour to secure fuel supplies and strengthen ties with four partners

Summary

French President Emmanuel Macron began a three-day tour of the Gulf on Monday, aimed at securing additional fuel supplies for France and strengthening economic, defence and security ties with four key regional partners. The tour starts in Kuwait before continuing to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar, and the Elysée Palace said Macron would seek commitments for additional diesel and petrol deliveries that could increase supplies available to France. France 24 also reports that the tour follows a weekend of violent protests sparked by soaring living costs, and that Macron had slammed France's "unbridled" violence in an address late on Sunday.

Timeline

1. RFI

   18 Oct 2026, 20:04 UTCSource ↗

   RFI reports that Macron begins a three-day Gulf tour on Monday to secure additional fuel supplies for France and strengthen economic, defence and security ties with four key regional partners.

2. France 24

   19 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Macron's three-day Gulf visit will first take him to Kuwait before the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar, and that the Elysée Palace said he would seek commitments for additional diesel and petrol deliveries.

3. France 24

   19 Oct 2026, 14:02 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Macron began his Gulf tour on Monday to secure oil and diesel supplies to bring down prices, after a weekend of violent protests sparked by soaring living costs.