Following a weekend of violent protests over soaring living costs, French President Emmanuel Macron launched an oil diplomacy mission in the Middle East to secure energy supplies and cool domestic fuel prices.

During a Gulf tour, the French president secured an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel monthly from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the Élysée Palace announced Tuesday. According to the presidency, the UAE committed to 100,000 tonnes per month, with Bahrain matching the remaining 100,000 tonnes during Macron's visit later in the day.