Macron announces Gulf trip to secure France's energy supplies

French President Emmanuel Macron said in an October 18 address that he would travel to Gulf countries the following morning to help secure France's energy supplies.

Macron linked French concerns over living costs and fuel prices to the conflict in the region. He said France was experiencing its consequences alongside other European countries despite not taking part in the conflict.

The president said he had already launched international initiatives to secure fuel and gas supplies. He also referred to government decisions made with fuel distributors to ensure that efforts to improve supplies were reflected in retail prices.

The address followed nationwide protests on October 17. Macron described peaceful demonstrators' demands as legitimate and urged people to distinguish them from those responsible for looting and attacks on buildings.

The prime minister would chair a crisis meeting the following morning to organise the fastest possible assistance for affected businesses, Macron said.