How is Europe helping Saudi Arabia? France begins deploying military means
France said on Thursday it had begun deploying military means to help Saudi Arabia, which is under attack by Houthi rebels, while Britain and Italy have offered modest military help. Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux said France was starting to put into action operational elements of an agreement to help protect Saudi oil facilities, and declined to elaborate on what military means were being sent. Germany has not declared any military support, although its parliament voted to extend its involvement in an EU naval mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea, and Poland has announced no military aid to Saudi Arabia.
Why it matters: The deployments and offers place European military posture in the Gulf alongside energy security, since the effect of the conflict on energy prices is a stated consideration in European decisions.