The French president Emmanuel Macron announced, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, that he had secured additional supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar, as part of his tour of the Gulf. This agreement comes amid tensions in global energy markets, linked to the war in the Middle East and its repercussions in Europe.
“We have secured the equivalent of 2 terawatt-hours per month of liquefied natural gas during the winter season,” Emmanuel Macron told journalists in Doha, the Qatari capital, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“This was important for us and it will allow us to move forward,” he added, underscoring the importance of these supplies to face the uncertainties weighing on the energy sector.
Paris and Doha want to strengthen their cooperation
This announcement is part of a shared willingness by France and Qatar to strengthen their relations, notably in the areas of defense and trade.
As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupt the markets for oil and gas, securing energy supplies constitutes a major challenge for European countries, eager to preserve their energy security during the winter.
Macron under domestic pressure
Domestically, Emmanuel Macron is also facing a tense situation after violence and vandalism on Saturday during protests against the cost of living.
The consequences of these events continue to weigh on the French government, despite efforts to restore order and contain the disturbances.
The search for new energy supplies thus takes place in a context marked both by international uncertainties and by the economic and social difficulties facing France.
