Macron on state visit for strategic partnership

Arriving in Riyadh on Monday evening when government censorship was becoming almost inevitable in Paris, the French president joined the Royal Palace without saying a word about the political upheaval 6,000 kilometers away.

The solemnity of the welcome ceremony and the one-on-one meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seemed the opposite of the instability which is once again shaking France.

The two leaders signed a strategic partnership with the ambition to “multiply cooperation in all areas”, from defense to ecological transition and culture.

They also “agreed to make every effort to contribute to de-escalation” in the Middle East, according to the Elysée. They notably called for the election of a president in Lebanon – of which the country has been deprived for more than two years – after the entry into force of a truce on November 27 between Israel and the pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah.

After this political sequence, it’s time for business: Emmanuel Macron was to close a Franco-Saudi business forum in the afternoon, the opportunity to launch partnerships in the economy of the future, from renewable energies to artificial intelligence. .

“Our wish is to be able, through this visit, to consolidate France’s place as an essential and reliable partner for Saudi Arabia in all areas of its development,” underlines the Elysée.

The kingdom has embarked, under the leadership of its young leader, on a profound economic and social modernization, entitled “Vision 2030”, with great investment.

The French Head of State is accompanied by around fifty bosses of large French groups (Total, EDF, Veolia…) and start-ups (Pasqal, Alan, Mistral…) emblematic of the economy of future.

Several contracts and declarations of intent were to be signed, notably relating to the development of renewable energies while Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading exporter of crude oil, is accelerating its diversification.

The leaders of the defense groups Dassault, Thales and Naval Group will also be present.

The kingdom, which will host the Universal Expo in 2030 and the 2034 World Cup, also intends to accelerate its opening to the world by modernizing its image in the process.

France, buoyed by the success of the Paris Olympic Games, hopes to be able to provide its expertise in the organization of these events.

It is also a privileged partner in the development of the archaeological heritage of Al-Ula, near Medina (north-west), which the kingdom intends to make a flagship tourist site in the Middle East and where the president will end his visit on Wednesday .
The two leaders will also meet for a one-on-one dinner on Tuesday.

The French president, who also wishes to involve Arabia in its commitments on major global issues, will also co-chair a summit dedicated to sustainable water management, the One Water Summit, on the sidelines of the COP16 desertification, on Tuesday in Riyadh.