Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron Sunday welcomed Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman for a two-day visit, hosting him at the Esports World Cup before a second day focused on bilateral deals and the situation in the Middle East.
According to France24.com, a French presidential official indicated that several agreements related to health, transport, and energy are expected to be signed on Monday, with discussions likely to emphasize Iran. The visit began on a lighter note Sunday evening with the crown prince attending the Esports World Cup closing ceremony in Paris, alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Macron engaged with leading gamers and presented trophies at the event, marking the first time it was held outside Saudi Arabia.
The visit holds significant diplomatic weight as the crown prince seldom leaves Saudi Arabia except for international summits, and this trip to France is his first in almost a year. "The fact that he chose France for this visit is an important signal and testifies to the depth and dynamism of the Franco-Saudi relationship," stated the French presidential official.
However, the visit faced criticism from journalist unions in France. The SNJ-CGT, CFDT-Journalistes, and SGJ-FO unions issued a joint statement protesting against the hosting of the Saudi crown prince. They highlighted an ongoing French investigation into torture and forced disappearance related to the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul.
The unions described the visit as a "provocation for defenders of media freedom and freedom of expression," considering the alleged involvement of MBS in Khashoggi's killing as concluded by US intelligence and a UN investigation.
The French presidential official did not comment on potential agreements related to a proposed theme park, Dragons Ball, backed by a Saudi fund and planned for the Val-d'Oise region near Paris. Saudi Arabia is also preparing to host major global events, including Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
On Monday afternoon, Macron and Mohammed bin Salman will chair the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-French strategic partnership council. Discussions will focus on key regional issues, aiming for close coordination between France and its Gulf partners to promote stability and peace in the Middle East, according to Macron's office. The meeting underscores the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations, following Macron's visit to Saudi Arabia in December 2021, becoming one of the first Western leaders to meet the prince post-Khashoggi incident.
