Paris, France
In his speech yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron drew a distinction between peaceful protesters and looters and rioters. He also linked rising fuel prices to developments in the Persian Gulf, stressing that France is not a party to the war.
His remarks amount to an implicit acknowledgment of the economic impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Western economies, amid protests that have been ongoing for weeks in Paris and other French cities.
Against this backdrop, the Élysée Palace announced that Macron would embark on a Gulf tour covering Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar.
The visit aims to secure energy supplies, discuss restoring regional stability and freedom of navigation, and address the crisis of rising prices.
Macron arrived in Kuwait today, Monday, marking the first stop of his Gulf tour.