French Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Fabien Mandon said on Thursday that France and Saudi Arabia were considering several options to help protect the Yanbu oil port, explaining that the options under consideration could include using French military assets. Talks between Paris and Riyadh remain at the assessment stage, according to the French military official.
French options to protect Yanbu port
During a parliamentary hearing, Mandon said the two sides were examining various arrangements to secure the port, saying: “The matter is still at the assessment stage with Saudi Arabia. We are examining different options to protect Yanbu port, which has come under attack and is vital to the hydrocarbon trade.”
The French statement links the assessment of security arrangements to Yanbu port’s role in the hydrocarbon trade, after Mandon said the port had come under attack. The chief of staff referred to the possible use of French military assets among the options under consideration, without presenting that possibility as a decision that had already been made.
Mandon added that France had already deployed about 2,000 troops in the region. The deployment comes as discussions with Saudi Arabia over the options continue, while the French official stressed that plans to protect the port remained under consideration. The current talks are therefore focused on weighing several options, including using French military capabilities to help protect the oil facility.
