French military deployment to Saudi Arabia is ‘strictly defensive’, minister says

French military deployment to Saudi Arabia is ‘strictly defensive’, minister says

French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot said France’s military assistance to Saudi Arabia to help defend against attacks by Yemen’s Houthis is “strictly defensive”.

His comments followed President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that French troops, radar units and defence systems would be deployed to the kingdom.

Barrot said France’s deployment of military assets to protect its allies and partners did not make Paris a party to Saudi Arabia’s war against the Houthis.

“Absolutely not… This is strictly defensive,” he said on France 2.

“Does that mean at any time we can be considered co-belligerents? Never.”