President Emmanuel Macron used a prime‑time televised interview to lay out what he described as France’s three most urgent challenges – a volatile energy market, a stubbornly high public debt, and heightened security risks from Russia and Iran – and to announce that French forces would be sent to Saudi Arabia to guard the Red Sea oil route.
Energy and fiscal pressures at home
According to France 24, Macron said the country remains exposed to “Russian‑linked energy volatility” and warned that Tehran’s regional ambitions add another layer of uncertainty for Europe’s energy supply. He underscored the need to accelerate the transition to renewable sources while maintaining sufficient gas reserves to cushion any further disruptions.
The president also addressed France’s fiscal situation, noting that public debt, now above 110% of GDP, limits the government’s ability to fund large‑scale subsidies. While he did not rule out a reduction in the gasoline tax – a point highlighted by Le HuffPost – he stressed that “the primary objective must be to bring the debt trajectory back on a sustainable path.”
Security threats and Red Sea deployment
Macron framed the security dimension of his briefing as “the most acute test for French foreign policy,” Reuters reported. He cited the ongoing war in Ukraine and Iran’s aggressive posture in the Gulf as drivers of a broader instability that threatens French economic interests abroad.
“We will deploy French military personnel to Saudi Arabia to protect the Red Sea oil route, a vital artery for global energy markets,” Macron said.
The deployment, confirmed by both Reuters and UA.NEWS, will involve a contingent of naval and air assets, though exact numbers were not disclosed. The forces are expected to operate in coordination with Saudi and allied units to deter attacks on merchant vessels by Houthi militants, who have stepped up strikes on shipping lanes since late 2023.
Analysts quoted by Reuters view the move as a signal that France is willing to project power beyond its traditional European sphere, reinforcing its commitments under the EU’s Red Sea security framework and the broader NATO agenda.
Domestically, the interview has become France’s top news story, with opposition parties questioning the cost of overseas deployments amid a tightening budget. Macron’s reference to possible fuel‑tax relief is being watched closely by motorists and trade unions, who see it as a potential alleviation of rising living costs.
Overall, the president’s message combined a call for energy diversification, fiscal prudence and a proactive security stance, underscoring the interconnected nature of today’s challenges for France and its allies.
