France Deploys Troops to Defend Saudi Oil Port from Houthi Attacks

France has agreed to send troops and equipment to Saudi Arabia to defend the strategic oil port of Yanbu, following a meeting between Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and French officials in New York. The move comes after Houthi rebels in Yemen declared a naval blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, threatening global oil supplies.

The joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and France was held on September 23, 2025, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Foreign ministers from all six GCC member states attended the meeting, which focused on events in the Gulf and Red Sea since the outbreak of the war with Iran.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud commended France's statements rejecting the Iranian attacks and its participation in international efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The prince emphasized that defending the Bab Al-Mandab, which is a major shipping route, is not just Saudi Arabia's responsibility but also that of the entire international community.