French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Tuesday evening, on a state visit that constitutes the fourth leg of his Gulf tour, which included Kuwait, the Emirates and Bahrain, and focuses on regional security, energy supplies, and strengthening economic and defense partnerships.
Upon his arrival at Hamad International Airport, Macron was received by Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, along with the French Ambassador to Qatar and the Qatari Ambassador to France. A reception ceremony was also held for the French President at Lusail Palace, and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, was at the forefront of his reception.
The discussions between the Emir of Qatar and the French President focused on the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to develop cooperation in various fields, in addition to discussing regional and international developments and issues of common interest.
Macron's visit comes in light of escalating regional tensions and threats facing the security of navigation and energy supplies, while Paris seeks to enhance coordination with its Gulf partners regarding the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the stability of energy markets.
Qatar's Ambassador to France, Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, stressed that the visit represents an opportunity to expand cooperation in the fields of defence, security, energy, investment, technology, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, as well as strengthening political coordination on regional and international crises.
For his part, Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Director of the Media and Communications Department at the Qatari Foreign Ministry, revealed on Tuesday that French President Emmanuel Macron’s discussions in Doha include cooperation in the fields of energy and defense, in addition to holding a strategic dialogue between the two countries.
These discussions come at a time when security developments in the Gulf, especially threats to navigation and energy supplies, pose challenges to regional countries and international partners.
Energy and defense files emerge in the Qatari-French discussions as areas of cooperation between the two countries, in light of international interest in the security of sea lanes and the stability of energy markets.
On Tuesday, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa held an official session of talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, which dealt with developments in the situation in the Middle East and strengthening strategic cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of defence, security, economics, energy and technology.
Macron affirmed France's commitment to helping Bahrain protect its security, stressing Paris's readiness to provide support again if the Kingdom is exposed to attacks. He revealed a trend to expand defense cooperation, including missile production and Bahrain’s participation in manufacturing operations, in addition to developing maritime cooperation, unmanned aircraft systems and space.
Macron stressed the importance of the strategic partnership with Bahrain, and said that “in the field of defense; “We want to do more about security and defense together.”
He added: “I believe that French weapons play a very important role, especially within the framework of this partnership, which will allow us to produce large capabilities of missiles, and you can be part of this process and the manufacturing process. We want to do more, and with the Bahraini Navy, we also want to work with you regarding drone and space systems.”
For his part, the Bahraini King condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, stressing his country's full solidarity with the Kingdom and supporting its measures to protect its security and sovereignty. He praised the French role in protecting the sea lanes, supporting the stability of the region, and the French and American efforts to support Lebanon and Syria.
He added: “Your visit comes under delicate regional circumstances, which witnessed unjustified attacks on the sovereignty and security of our countries, the most recent of which were the sinful Houthi terrorist attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which we condemn in the strongest terms, expressing the Kingdom of Bahrain’s full solidarity with the sister Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all the measures it takes to protect its security, stability and territorial integrity.”
King Hamad stressed the importance of coordination with France in the Security Council on regional and international issues, especially the Palestinian issue, stressing the necessity of reaching peace based on a two-state solution, respecting the sovereignty of states, and adopting dialogue to address crises.
King Hamad said in a speech he delivered welcoming the French President: “We are proud of the remarkable development our bilateral relations are witnessing. One of its most recent milestones was the signing of the defense cooperation agreement during our visit to France last February. This is a step that paves the way for broader cooperation in the fields of security, energy and technology, and supports trade, scientific and cultural exchange between the two countries, and the implementation of major projects with the Republic of France in the energy, industry and transportation sectors, including the railway project that connects Bahrain, via new bridges, to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Gulf.
On the economic side, the discussions dealt with cooperation in the energy, industry and transportation sectors, including the railway project linking Bahrain to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Macron pointed out securing supplies amounting to 100,000 tons of diesel per month, in the context of his talk about cooperation in the energy sector.
He also stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of energy, and said: “I am pleased that the president of Total is with us,” announcing Bahrain’s contribution to securing 100,000 tons of diesel per month for France.
The visit witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, aiming to develop the competencies and skills necessary for a Bahraini civil nuclear program, through training and qualification programmes. The Bahraini King also awarded the French President the Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa Medal of Excellence, in appreciation of his efforts in strengthening bilateral relations.
Macron's visit to Manama comes within the framework of a tour that focuses on strengthening French energy security, expanding economic and defense cooperation with the Gulf states, in addition to discussing regional developments and the repercussions of the war in the Middle East on energy supplies and maritime navigation. The French President is scheduled to conclude his tour in Qatar on Wednesday.
The Gulf tour gains additional importance in light of the internal conditions facing France, after the country witnessed protests and violence over the weekend, against the backdrop of rising costs of living and energy prices.
Diesel supply
The Elysee Palace announced, on Tuesday, that Macron obtained pledges during his tour to secure an additional 200,000 tons of diesel per month from the UAE and Bahrain, with 100,000 tons from each country, in an effort to relieve pressure on the French fuel market, which is facing a rise in prices amid social unrest and protests over the cost of living.
The Elysee explained that these quantities are in addition to supplies previously secured from Saudi Arabia, amounting to 95 thousand tons per month during October and November, bringing the total Gulf pledges to 295 thousand tons per month, which represents slightly more than 10 percent of France’s diesel consumption.
Paris is counting on these supplies to ease pressures on fuel prices and ensure the stability of the local market, at a time when the war between the United States and Iran, and the disturbances witnessed by shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, have led to an increase in the costs of energy transportation and maritime insurance.
In this context, the Elysee revealed that Kuwait had made pledges to provide quantities of diesel and jet fuel to the French regions of Mayotte and Reunion in the Indian Ocean, with the shipments to pass through the Sultanate of Oman to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, in which shipping traffic has been damaged since the outbreak of the war.
France is also holding talks with countries in the region to reduce the costs of insurance for maritime shipping, allowing companies to increase the quantities of fuel transported through the strait, and reduce the impact of security risks on prices.
The French presidency confirmed that these arrangements aim to enhance energy security through long-term commitments with Gulf partners, noting that increasing supplies, in addition to releasing part of French strategic reserves, may contribute to alleviating pressures on prices, without it being able yet to determine the size of the expected decline in gas stations.
In a televised speech to the French on Sunday, Macron pledged to work to secure additional energy supplies during his Gulf tour, in an attempt to contain the repercussions of the crisis on consumers and the French economy.
The French moves come at a time when energy importing countries seek to diversify sources of supply and reduce the risks associated with disruption to trade in the Gulf, while Paris continues its consultations with its regional partners regarding the security of navigation and the stability of energy markets.
On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement” signed between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan on August 7 to Parliament for ratification.
The head of the Communications Department of the Turkish Presidency, Burhanuddin Duran, said that submitting the draft law to ratify the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement,” signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to Parliament is an important step towards consolidating strategic cooperation between the three sister countries.
He added: “This strategic partnership between our countries aims to enhance collective deterrence, increase joint capabilities in the field of defense, and protect security and stability in our region.”
Duran explained, in a statement published on his account in “X”, that “(The Mecca Agreement), which is based on the principle that the countries of the region assume their responsibilities in regional issues, embodies a common will that gives priority to security and solidarity.”
He added: “We hope that the process of Parliament’s ratification of the agreement will be beneficial to our country and to the two sister countries, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks from now on to all the parties and members of Parliament who will contribute to this process.”
Parliamentary sources said that Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, who is currently on a work mission in Kyrgyzstan, will refer the draft law to the Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by former Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, upon his return, for discussion. In preparation for submitting it to a public session for approval.
The “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement” includes provisions, the most important of which is that any attack on a signatory country is considered an attack on the three countries, similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Charter, and others related to the joint production of weapons and the exchange of technology between defense industry companies, military training and joint maneuvers, the training of specialized military cadres, the exchange of intelligence information and combating terrorism.
On the eve of submitting the draft law to Parliament, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed regional security issues with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.
Turkish Foreign Ministry sources stated that the two ministers focused, during the discussions that took place in a phone call on Monday, on the Houthi attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In the same context, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the Houthi attacks, pointing out that the attack they carried out on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh caused the loss of many “our brothers, including Umrah pilgrims, their lives, and left hundreds injured.”
Erdogan added in a speech during a meeting with village heads at the presidential headquarters, Monday-Tuesday night, that the Houthi attacks that targeted our friend and sister Saudi Arabia caused a significant escalation of tension in our region.
