Mohammed bin Salman begins a two-day official visit to Paris this Sunday, August 23. The Saudi Crown Prince is scheduled to meet with Emmanuel Macron and then Sébastien Lecornu, against a backdrop of particularly tense regional tensions. Diplomacy, energy, and investment will be at the heart of this trip, marked by France's desire to further strengthen relations with Riyadh.
Mohammed bin Salman is expected to join Emmanuel Macron on Sunday for an initial session focused on the Franco-Saudi partnership, before attending the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup at the Grand Palais in the evening. On Monday, the two countries are scheduled to hold the first meeting of their Strategic Partnership Council and sign several agreements, notably in the areas of transportation, energy, health, and new technologies.
Investments and regional crises at the heart of the discussions
The Élysée Palace is clearly acknowledging its economic objective. Emmanuel Macron "will be keen to encourage more Saudi investment in France," while Paris is also seeking to position its companies within the major projects of the Vision 2030 strategy. Several projects remain under discussion, including some large-scale investments. The presidency notably declined to comment on the proposed Dragon Ball theme park in Val-d'Oise.
The situation in the Middle East will also be a central topic of discussion. The crisis with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, energy security, Gaza and the two-state solution, as well as Lebanon and Syria, are to be addressed. A ministerial meeting is also scheduled for Monday to work on diversifying energy supply routes.
This visit confirms the dramatic strengthening of Riyadh's diplomatic influence. Eight years after the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which severely damaged the international image of the kingdom and its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman is now received in Paris as a major strategic partner. Criticism of human rights records in Saudi Arabia has not disappeared, but geopolitical and economic imperatives have largely placed Riyadh back at the center of the game.
The trip is all the more symbolic given that Mohammed bin Salman travels relatively little abroad. In an unstable regional environment, France intends to consolidate a partnership that has become essential, while Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its alliances, investments, and economy. On Monday afternoon, the Crown Prince is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu at Les Invalides before a signing ceremony for agreements.
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