France Deploys Troops to Saudi Arabia's Yanbu Amid Houthi Attacks

France has announced that it will send troops and air defense systems to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu to protect its oil export facilities. The mission is described as strictly defensive, with no role in fighting the Houthi rebels. This move follows earlier signals from Paris that France was ready to help secure Saudi energy infrastructure in Yanbu and along the East-West Pipeline.

The pipeline, which runs approximately 1,200 kilometers across Saudi Arabia, carries around 4-5 million barrels of oil per day before recent attacks. The Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted the pipeline and the port of Yanbu, disrupting oil flows and forcing temporary shutdowns. French officials say that this deployment aims to reduce the risk of a single strike halting exports, which would limit price spikes on each Houthi attack.

The move has significant implications for global oil markets. The East-West Pipeline is currently the main export route for Saudi Arabia's oil, as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to Iran's blockade. France's involvement in securing this pipeline adds a new foreign target in the Red Sea, and the Houthis have vowed to respond with escalation.

For France, the motive behind this deployment is partly domestic, as President Emmanuel Macron cited record high fuel prices, particularly for diesel, jet fuel, and natural gas. Europe's involvement in securing the pipeline marks a notable step in a conflict that has been led by the US and Israel so far.