French President Emmanuel Macron denied Thursday that the CIA had warned France of a possible Russian drone operation targeting southern Europe, even as he pledged to send French “military assets” to protect a key Saudi Arabian oil facility on the Red Sea.
In a joint interview broadcast on France 2 and TF1, Macron said, “We can deny this piece of information, the CIA did not inform France of this information and the Italian defence minister said the same thing.” His comments came after Spanish daily El Mundo reported that the CIA had alerted several southern European governments to a possible Russian drone operation targeting Spain, France and Italy. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto also rejected the report Thursday, writing on X that the alarm raised by the Spanish newspaper “serves no one and is not confirmed,” adding, “We already live in difficult, ‘nervous’ times, and no one needs more fuel on the fire.”
Pledge to protect Saudi oil route
Macron said France would send “military assets” — including troops, radar systems and defensive systems — to protect the Yanbu site of the East-West pipeline on the Red Sea, which gives Saudi Arabia an alternative route for shipping crude and refined oil to European markets. “We will not be engaging in any conflict,” he said. “Our aim is to help stabilize the oil market.” The pipeline, which can carry 5 million barrels of crude per day with capacity to temporarily reach 7 million, has become critical during the Middle East war by letting Saudi Arabia bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The port, which also holds major oil storage and refining facilities, has been targeted by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen during the conflict.
Macron said disruptions at such sites are quickly felt by consumers: “As soon as one of these locations is relaxed, the immediate impact is seen at the gas pump. You’ll see it in two days.” Hard-left France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticized the deployment plan and called for a parliamentary vote, saying, “Sending troops to Saudi Arabia means entering a theatre of war. If the base is attacked, what will we do? There’s no question of becoming a belligerent party.”
Warning on Russia’s hybrid campaign
Macron also addressed Russia’s escalating hybrid campaign against Europe, citing the drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport on the night of Aug. 4-5, which German authorities have blamed on Russia. He said France has not suffered a similar attack but that one remains possible. “When you ask me, ‘Could this happen?’ my answer is yes,” he said. Macron said Russia views “Europe to be the strategic heart of Ukraine” and called the possibility of a Russian attack on Europe “plausible,” adding, “It is clear that there have been several signs indicating that Russia is preparing to do this.”
Macron said a potential Russian mobilization of roughly 300,000 personnel was a “credible scenario” that was “often shared” among officials, calling it a sign Moscow is prepared to “make even greater sacrifices to take over the entire Donbas.” He estimated Russia would need a year and a half to two years at its current pace to seize the remaining Donbas territory it does not control, “with terrible losses and suffering for Ukraine.”
Separately Thursday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance is prepared to respond to sabotage and drone incidents across Europe. Speaking in New York at an event commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Rutte said, “Russia is doing more and more when it comes to the cyber etc. domain, but… NATO is ready for this,” adding that response options are in place “when it comes to hybrids to make sure that we stay strong.” Rutte argued that the rising number of hybrid incidents in NATO countries shows Russian President Vladimir Putin is struggling in Ukraine’s fifth year of war. “Putin is in a bad place,” he said, adding that citizens of NATO’s 32 member countries can remain calm and urging members to increase support for Ukraine. “All the response options are there, and we will use whatever we need,” Rutte said.
His remarks followed a Danish intelligence warning Thursday of a growing risk of Russian military action against NATO countries, including further hybrid attacks, alongside the Spanish media reports of a possible Russian drone threat to Spain, France or Italy.
Hegseth calls for Europe to lead its own defense
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that European allies must take the lead in defending their own continent, calling for NATO to become a “real hard-line military alliance.” Speaking at a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Hegseth proposed a “NATO 3.0” aimed at strengthening military capabilities and deterrence in Europe. “NATO 3.0 is post-Cold War recognition that (NATO) needs to go back to a real hard-line military alliance that has real military capabilities capable of deterring right here on the continent and taking the lead for the conventional defense of Europe,” he said.
His comments follow Washington’s recent notice to allies that it will no longer provide certain warships and aircraft in the event of an attack on a NATO member, prompting European allies and Canada to assess resulting capability gaps. Under Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all, though the provision does not automatically require military assistance from allies. The U.S., which fields NATO’s largest armed forces, is seeking to reduce its conventional role in Europe but does not plan to withdraw its nuclear weapons stationed on the continent, which remain central to NATO’s deterrence strategy.
