France is winning brownie points in the Middle East:
1) TotalEnergies is helping several countries (notably Iraq) to ship crude oil throughout the Strait of Hormuz (sure, this is a private company, but I doubt TTE has not consulted the French government about it).
2) Paris is sending soldiers and kit to Yanbu to help the Saudis against missile attacks from the Houthis
3) France deployed Rafale fighter jets over the United Arab Emirates early in the conflict, ostensibly to protect the little-known navy base it operates in Abu Dhabi