Macron makes surprise Riyadh stop in Gulf energy tour

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for an unannounced stop in his Gulf tour aimed at securing fuel supplies for France.

• Macron arrived in Riyadh from Qatar, the first Western head of state to visit the Saudi capital since Houthi attacks escalated in early October.
• The Elysee said the visit was not planned and aims to show French solidarity with Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks on its territory.
• Macron began the tour Monday in Kuwait and visited the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, winning diesel and LNG supply pledges from the three states.
• The tour follows roughly eight months after a US–Israeli military confrontation with Iran began on February 28, which disrupted Strait of Hormuz shipping.