France will deploy troops, radars and defensive systems to Saudi Arabia to protect the Yanbu oil terminal on the Red Sea coast, damaged by Houthi attacks. — Ukrinform.
This was stated by Emmanuel Macron in aninterview with TF1 and France 2, Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"We will send military assets – military personnel, radars and defense systems – to protect this facility. Not to intervene in any conflict, but to protect this facility," the French president said.
Yanbu is the main Saudi terminal for oil exports across the Red Sea. Theassociated infrastructure allows oil to be supplied bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping is hampered by military escalation in the Middle East.
"We are preparing to protect this facility, as just a few weeks ago, more than five million barrels were exported through it every day. This is a significant amount," the President of France stressed.
He called Yanbu's protection one of the immediate levers for restoring energy supplies and reducing pressure on world prices. "As soon as the tension in one of these places decreases, it immediately affects the prices at gas stations," Macron explained.
According to him, Paris and Riyadh are finalizing the details. Macron also did not rule out the possibility of involving Rafale fighters, depending on the development of the situation.
In addition, France, which chairs the Group of Seven, plans to gather partners in the coming days to discuss a possible coordinated release of strategic energy reserves.