Paris, France – French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday hosted Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for talks in Paris, seeking to nudge the de-facto leader of the kingdom into more vocal support of Ukraine against the Russian invasion.
The visit of the 37-year-old comes less than a year after his last visit to the Elysee Palace and underlines the warm relationship between Paris and Riyadh.
During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the historical and strategic relations between the two countries and discussed ways to further develop them in all fields. The aim was to serve the interests of both friendly nations and their respective peoples. They also exchanged views on international and regional developments including the Lebanese crisis, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts in addressing common challenges.
French President @EmmanuelMacron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed #Ukraine crisis. #France is seeking #SaudiArabia's support against #Russian invasion. #Russia @KSAmofaEN @francediplo_EN #FranceKSA pic.twitter.com/K6w7bWtJVh
— TRENDS (@mena_trends) June 16, 2023
The discussions primarily focused on reviewing and strengthening the historical and strategic relations between the two countries. The leaders explored various avenues to further develop these relations across all fields, aiming to benefit both nations and their people. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on international and regional developments, fostering a better understanding of shared challenges and the importance of joint efforts in addressing them.
The presence of high-ranking officials from both Saudi Arabia and France demonstrated the commitment of both countries to enhancing bilateral relations. The meeting highlighted the significance of cooperation and collaboration in areas such as diplomacy, culture, trade, and investment. It underscored the mutual desire to strengthen the bonds between the two nations and work towards shared goals of stability, prosperity, and mutual benefit.
His stay in France appears set to be a long one, with the crown prince due to attend a Paris summit on a New Global Financing Pact hosted by Macron on June 22-23.
On Monday, he will also attend an official Saudi reception for Riyadh’s candidacy to host Expo 2030, a bid for which Saudi wants strong French support.
The prince can reside comfortably in France, given he owns the opulent Chateau Louis XIV near Versailles outside Paris, a modern building that seeks to replicate the look of French imperial palaces.
A French presidential official, who asked not to be named, said Paris wanted MBS to understand the scale of the Ukraine conflict and “help us speed up the final outcome of the war, which means a victory for Ukraine on the ground”.
“We are going to tell him how important the Ukraine issue is and how Saudi Arabia can exert influence, including on Russia,” added the official.
Cautious on Ukraine
Saudi Arabia has maintained a cautious stance throughout the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, stopping short of condemning the assault while emphasizing the importance of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
MBS hosted President Volodymyr Zelensky last month in Jeddah during an Arab League summit, the Ukrainian leader’s first visit to the Middle East since the invasion began, and won his praise for supporting Ukraine’s “territorial integrity”.
But Saudi also retains close ties to Russia, particularly through Moscow’s involvement in the expanded OPEC+ format of the oil cartel that includes 10 non-OPEC members.
Macron is also likely to encourage MBS to use Saudi Arabia’s influence among the Sunni community in Lebanon to break the deadlock that has seen the country repeatedly fail to choose a new president.
The French leader last month named his former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as his personal envoy for Lebanon in a new bid to end the political crisis. The veteran politician is due to visit soon.
Saudi Arabia and its regional rival Iran are also in the throes of an unexpected rapprochement — brokered by Beijing — that has caused huge interest among Western governments still seeking to revive a 2015 deal on the Iranian nuclear programme.
“In Saudi Arabia’s normalization with Iran, there is potential for easing tensions in the region,” said the French official, expressing hope it could also smooth the path to an election of a Lebanese president.
The Friday meeting was attended by prominent officials from Saudi Arabia, including Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Minister of Culture; Mohammad bin Abdulmalik Al Al-Sheikh, the Minister of State and Cabinet Member; Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, the Finance Minister; Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan, the Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF); Dr. Bandar bin Obaid Al-Rasheed, Secretary to the Saudi Crown Prince; and Fahd Al-Ruwaili, the Saudi Ambassador to France.
Representing the French side were Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs; Ludovic Pouille, the French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Alexis Kِohler, Secretary General of the Presidency; Major General Fabien Mandon, Chief of the Special Staff; Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor and G7/G20 Sherpa to the French President; Patrick Durrell, Adviser for North Africa and the Middle East; and Victoire Vandeville, the Advisor of Attractiveness, Export, and Trade Policy of President Macron.
(With inputs from Saudi Press Agency and AFP)