Macron begins state visit to Qatar after Gulf tour focused on energy and defence
French President Emmanuel Macron has begun a two-day state visit to Qatar, where he was welcomed with full state honours by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The visit comes at the end of a wider Gulf tour that has focused on energy security, defence, regional stability and investment ties. Talks in Doha were held at Lusail Palace after Macron arrived at Hamad International Airport under a fighter-jet escort and a state motorcade through the capital.
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The French presidency said the Gulf tour secured pledges of additional fuel supplies, including extra diesel. According to the Elysee, France obtained commitments for an extra 200,000 tonnes a month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, around 100,000 tonnes from each. With supplies from Saudi Arabia included, the total reached 295,000 tonnes a month, which the presidency said was equivalent to just over 10% of French consumption.
Macron said in a speech to the French nation on Sunday that he was travelling to Gulf countries to help secure energy supplies and respond to concerns over fuel prices and the cost of living. The Qatar visit is the final stop on a regional tour that also included the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. French business leaders are part of the delegation, including TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanné.
The company already has substantial interests in Qatar through its partnership with QatarEnergy in the North Field East gas expansion project. Qatar's foreign ministry said the talks in Doha would be followed by a strategic dialogue on Wednesday covering regional matters of mutual concern, including energy, the economy, investment and defence. The trip underlines how energy security has become a central part of France's diplomatic agenda.
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The confirmed fuel commitments are significant because they come at a time when the French government is trying to ensure that supply arrangements translate into lower prices for consumers. The visit also reflects the broader role Gulf states are playing in European energy planning, particularly as governments seek to diversify supply and reduce pressure on domestic markets. For Qatar, the talks add to an already close relationship with France that spans defence, investment and energy cooperation.
The presence of senior business figures in the delegation suggests that commercial ties remain part of the wider diplomatic effort. The state visit also comes as Doha prepares for further discussions on regional stability and other shared concerns with Paris. What remains unclear is how quickly the new fuel commitments will affect prices in France and how the agreements will be implemented in practice.
The strategic dialogue in Doha is expected to provide more detail on the scope of cooperation between the two countries. For now, the visit marks the conclusion of Macron's Gulf tour and a further step in France's effort to secure energy supplies through regional partnerships.
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