French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Qatar for a two-day state visit, seeking to strengthen strategic ties and secure energy deals. He was welcomed with full state honors, including a cavalry procession and cannon salvos.
What happened
Macron met with Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at Lusail Palace to discuss energy security, defense, and regional stability. The two leaders also talked about investments and cooperation in multiple fields. Macron's visit is part of a wider Gulf tour, which has already produced commitments for additional energy supplies from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
The French president is accompanied by French business leaders, including the CEOs of TotalEnergies and Engie. TotalEnergies already has significant interests in Qatar, including a partnership with QatarEnergy in the North Field East LNG expansion project. The visit aims to develop additional defense ties and build on wider investment ties, with Qatar pledging €10 billion in investment across various sectors during the Emir's 2024 state visit to France.
Macron's state visit to Qatar comes as he faces protests at home over fuel prices and the cost of living. He has said that he will work to secure France's energy supplies and address the grievances over fuel prices, while his government works with fuel distributors to ensure lower prices for consumers. The French presidency has announced that France has secured pledges for an extra 295,000 tonnes of diesel per month from Gulf partners, equivalent to around 10% of French consumption.
