Macron begins Gulf tour to secure extra oil and diesel for France as fuel costs rise and Paris seeks routes bypassing Hormuz

French President Emmanuel Macron has begun a three-day Gulf tour to secure additional oil and diesel supplies for France, as the U.S.-Iran war and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz push fuel prices higher.

Macron met Kuwait’s emir on Monday and is due to travel on to the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar, accompanied by the chief executives of TotalEnergies and Engie.

The Élysée said the goal is to obtain “additional volumes and more supplies for the French people,” which it said would indirectly lower prices. France is also pressing for supply routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, including the UAE’s pipeline to Fujairah.

The tour follows nationwide protests over fuel costs. Diesel in France is averaging about €2.36 a liter, while Brent crude is trading near $108 a barrel.