French military support to Saudi Arabia ‘defensive’, says minister

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated on Sunday that the deployment of French military support to Saudi Arabia in response to attacks from Iran-backed Houthis is strictly defensive. This announcement came after President Emmanuel Macron revealed plans on Thursday to send French troops, radar units, and defense systems to Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis have been launching repeated missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting oil installations and the key oil terminal of Yanbu, following the reignition of the Yemen war in July. Saudi Arabia is militarily supporting the Yemeni government against the Houthis. When asked if France's aid meant it had become a partner in the Saudi Arabia war against the Houthis, Barrot firmly rejected the notion, stating, "Absolutely not...

This is strictly defensive." He added that France has been deploying military assets since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran to protect its allies and partners. When queried on whether this could make France co-belligerents at any point, Barrot emphatically replied, "Never." The scale of the French deployment to Saudi Arabia will depend on Riyadh's requests as well as France's own capacities and the evolving situation.