France will send troops, radar systems and defense systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect Yanbu, a Red Sea port city that is key to energy transport, President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday.

The move will place French military resources around an important route for Saudi oil exports.

Macron announced the planned mission during a wide ranging prime time television interview focused on the international situation.

He also addressed rising energy prices, possible threats from Russia and a disputed report concerning potential drone attacks launched from the Mediterranean.

Crude oil prices have surged recently as Yanbu, the main alternative route for Saudi oil exports, has faced missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, who are backed by Iran.

Paris is now preparing to help shield the port and the energy flows connected to it.

“We are going to send military resources, that is to say, soldiers, radar systems and defense systems, to protect this site — not to get us involved in any conflicts, but to protect this site,” Macron told TF1 and France 2 TV.

His description placed firm limits on the stated purpose of the deployment.

Macron said the French forces would protect the site rather than involve France in any conflicts surrounding the attacks or the wider regional situation.

The French president is also facing growing pressure at home because of high energy prices. With winter approaching, Macron sought to reassure the French public that the country has adequate supplies of both oil and gas.

Macron said Paris was actively working to ensure energy flows were not disrupted.

His comments linked the government’s domestic assurances about available supplies with its effort to protect a Saudi port that serves as a key route for energy transport.

Macron also warned about the potential consequences of a possible American ban on diesel exports.

The White House has denied that such a prohibition is under consideration, but Macron said a ban would be “catastrophic” for both the global economy and the United States economy.

Russia was another major focus of the television interview. Macron warned that France could face attacks similar to the failed strike in Leipzig, where Germany said Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack against the airport in August.

Macron said Moscow is multiplying hostile and criminal acts against European countries. He also accused Russia of seeking to intimidate Europe and break the continent’s resolve in supporting Ukraine.

Last week, Macron gathered French party chiefs at the Elysee to brief them on what he described as the growing Russian threat.

He later said he had instructed his government to prepare a plan for protecting critical infrastructure against drone and cyber attacks.

At the same time, Macron rejected a report from the Spanish newspaper El Mundo concerning a warning allegedly issued to European governments.

The report said the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency had warned about potential drone attacks launched from vessels in the Mediterranean.

Macron said French intelligence services had received no such warning from the CIA. “I can deny it. The CIA did not inform French services,” he said.

Russia, for its part, says European allegations concerning hybrid attacks are baseless. Moscow has described those accusations as the product of hysteria directed against Russia.

Macron’s stance toward Moscow faced complications this week after France surprised other European Union members by securing an exemption from EU sanctions for metals tycoon Alisher Usmanov. France cited national security concerns in seeking the exemption for the Russian and Uzbek businessman.

That decision prompted Azerbaijan to pardon a French national who had been imprisoned for espionage.

The development came as Macron continued warning about Moscow’s conduct and pressing European support for Ukraine during a tense period for French energy and security policy.