Macron says 'CIA did not ​inform French services' of possible Russian drone attacks

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday rejected a story in Spain’s El Mundo that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency warned European capitals about imminent Russian drone attacks from the Mediterranean. In a primetime interview, he said the claim was false and affirmed that France will soon dispatch troops and air‑defence systems to Saudi Arabia to protect the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

The denial comes as Russia has stepped up unmanned‑aircraft activity over the eastern Mediterranean, targeting commercial shipping and oil facilities. In recent weeks, several vessels have reported near‑misses with drones that analysts link to Moscow’s attempts to disrupt energy flows to Europe. European governments have been scrambling for intelligence on the threat, and the notion that the CIA had shared a specific warning sparked speculation about a coordinated response. Macron’s statement also follows a series of French‑Saudi security talks in Riyadh, where both sides agreed to deepen military cooperation amid growing concerns over Houthi attacks and Iranian‑backed militia activity in the Red Sea.

Macron said French forces would join a multinational task force already operating in the Gulf, providing Patriot missile batteries and a contingent of infantry to guard Yanbu’s oil refineries. He added that the deployment would be ready within weeks and would complement existing U.S. and British naval patrols. Saudi officials welcomed the move, calling it “a vital reinforcement” for the kingdom’s maritime security. The United States has not commented publicly on the alleged CIA warning, but a senior State Department official later told reporters that Washington continues to share threat assessments with allies on a “need‑to‑know” basis.

The next steps will involve French troops arriving in Saudi Arabia and integrating with the existing coalition forces. Observers say the deployment could signal a broader European willingness to protect critical energy routes beyond the continent. If the Russian drone campaign escalates, France’s presence may deter attacks and reassure commercial shippers, but it also risks drawing Paris deeper into a regional conflict that has already strained diplomatic ties between Tehran, Washington and European capitals.