France to Deploy Troops and Defense Systems to Saudi Arabia

France will deploy troops and air defense capabilities to protect Yanbu, a key Saudi Arabian oil port, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

Macron said Yanbu is strategically important for the transportation of energy. The port has recently faced the threat of missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to Reuters.

France will send military personnel, radar systems and defense equipment to Yanbu, Macron said. He stressed, however, that France does not intend to become involved in any conflict. The deployment is aimed solely at protecting the strategically important facility.

“We will send military capabilities, including troops, radar systems and defense systems, to ensure the security of this facility. We have no intention of becoming involved in any conflict,” Macron told French television channels TF1 and France 2.

Yanbu is an important alternative route for Saudi Arabia’s oil exports. Recent attacks along oil transportation routes toward the port have contributed to higher crude oil prices in international markets.

Macron also criticized the possibility of the United States banning diesel exports. The White House has said that no such ban is currently under consideration. Macron warned that such a move would have “catastrophic” consequences for the global economy as well as for the U.S. economy.

He also warned of the possibility of a potential Russian attack on French territory.

Macron is facing domestic pressure in France over high energy prices. He sought to reassure the public, however, that the country has sufficient supplies of gas and oil ahead of the winter.

France is actively working to ensure that energy supplies continue to flow without disruption, Macron said.