As the United States considers restricting diesel fuel exports because of record-high fuel prices, French President Emmanuel Macron said such a step would drive up prices and called it “a bad decision.”
Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he supported the idea of restricting diesel fuel exports, while U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said a full-scale ban would not work and could increase gasoline and jet fuel prices.
Macron said he delivered the warning to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting they held earlier this week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Macron said France was not directly dependent on U.S. oil but that an export restriction would nevertheless lead to higher prices.
France seeks to secure its fuel supply
Macron said France was preparing to prevent a fuel shortage amid energy supply disruptions linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. He said the country had filled its gas storage facilities and had oil reserves.
Macron said France would maintain its fuel supply in the coming weeks. He said he would invite the G7 countries to a meeting to assess pressure on the market and that they would also discuss whether strategic reserves should be used again to stabilize the market.
French military resources to be used at facility in Saudi Arabia
Macron also said French military resources would be sent to protect a major energy facility in Saudi Arabia. He said the mission would involve troops as well as radar stations and defense systems.
Macron warns of a possible attack linked to Russia
The French president also said his country could face an attempted Russian attack similar to the incident at Leipzig Airport last month. Macron rejected a claim that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency had informed French intelligence services about a possible Russian drone attack in southern France, saying that no such notification had been issued.
Macron nevertheless said the situation was concerning and that an attack could take place. He argued that Russia was carrying out increasingly hostile and, at times, criminal actions against European countries. He said there were some signs that Russia was preparing for another mobilization.
Macron said it was a realistic scenario for Russia to mobilize an additional 300,000 troops. The claim that some European governments had been warned of a possible Russian operation targeting Spain, France or Italy was not independently verified.
