Macron visits Saudi Arabia to back kingdom and seek fuel supplies

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for a surprise visit to Saudi Arabia, where he is due to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

His office said the trip was meant to show France's support for the kingdom after weeks of attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, and to keep working on securing and diversifying energy supplies.

Macron is the first Western leader to visit Saudi Arabia since the Houthis stepped up their attacks this month, according to the reports.

Why it matters beyond the Gulf

The visit is part of a wider Gulf tour by the French president aimed at locking down supplies of petrol and diesel. Macron is trying to bring down energy prices in France after violent protests over the cost of living, which have grown into a political crisis for him.

The Houthi attacks have hit Saudi Arabia hard. Riyadh airport was forced to shut, a major investment conference was postponed, and attempts by the rebels to blockade Saudi ports are hampering the kingdom's oil exports.

For Nigerians, the concern is familiar. Saudi Arabia is one of the world's biggest oil exporters, and any threat to its ports and exports can unsettle global crude prices. Nigeria imports most of its refined petrol, so a jump in international prices often shows up at filling stations and in transport costs here.

France's push to secure its own fuel deals in the Gulf is also a reminder of how competition for energy supplies can tighten the market for everyone else.

What happens next

Macron's meeting with Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to focus on energy cooperation and on protecting Saudi infrastructure. The sources did not say what deals, if any, would be signed.

Much will depend on whether the Houthi attacks continue. A prolonged campaign against Saudi ports and airports would keep pressure on oil markets, and on fuel prices far from the Gulf.