Emmanuel Macron, President of France, says that his country will deploy military forces and defense systems to Saudi Arabia to protect the port of Yanbu and ensure the security of the energy transit route in the Red Sea.

According to a Reuters report, Macron said in a television interview on Thursday, September 24, that France will provide soldiers, radar systems, and defense equipment to Saudi Arabia to protect this port.

He emphasized that the purpose of this action is not for France to enter regional conflicts, but to protect facilities and the important energy transit route.

The port of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast is considered one of the important routes for Saudi Arabia’s oil exports, and in the current situation, its importance for energy transit has increased.

In recent days, Houthi missile attacks in Yemen on parts of Saudi Arabia, including facilities and areas related to energy transit, have increased concerns about the security of oil exports through the Red Sea route.

Reuters reported that the Houthis had previously claimed an attack on an Aramco oil facility in Yanbu as well.

France’s decision to strengthen defense support for Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure comes as disruptions in oil transit routes in the region have also affected the global energy market.

In this interview, Macron also warned about the increase in security threats from Russia against European countries and said that Paris is preparing a plan to protect France’s critical infrastructure against drone and cyber attacks.

The President of France also rejected reports about a CIA warning to European countries regarding possible drone attacks and noted that this agency has not given such a warning to French security agencies.