Emmanuel Macron began a three-day state visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday, a key regional player with which Paris wants to intensify ties, in the midst of a political crisis in France.
The president landed shortly before 4:00 p.m. GMT in Riyadh, the kingdom's capital, as the French government, in place for barely more than two months, is preparing to be overthrown in Parliament.
The Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, requested in the afternoon an adoption without a vote of the Social Security budget, paving the way for a motion of censure which has every chance of being voted on in the coming days.
The head of state, who did not comment on the political situation in France, immediately went to the Royal Palace for a first face-to-face meeting followed by a dinner with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, de facto ruler of the kingdom.
Emmanuel Macron, strong from his role in the ceasefire in Lebanon, intends to strengthen France's influence in the region, shaken by multiple conflicts, before the return of Republican Donald Trump to the White House.
He also hopes to regain the international margin of maneuver that he has completely lost on the domestic scene since the dissolution in June.
This is his third trip to Saudi Arabia since 2017, a “very close relationship” to which the country's strong man, a time outcast after the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, responded with three official visits in France.
The two leaders will “enact an enhancement of the bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership”, announced the Elysée, recalling that the last presidential state visit dates back to Jacques Chirac in 2006.
They will see how to “work together” on the conflicts shaking the region and the risks of generalized escalation.
With Lebanon at the “heart of the discussions”, after a fragile truce that came into force on Wednesday between Israel and the Shiite movement Hezbollah, supported by Iran.
Emmanuel Macron hopes for Saudi support for the Lebanese army, which is redeploying on the border with Israel but lacks resources, and for the resolution of the political crisis which has shaken Lebanon for more than two years.
Support for Lebanon
The Gulf monarchy, long politically and financially influential in Lebanon, has disengaged in recent years in the face of political chaos and the growing weight of Hezbollah.
The latter has emerged very weakened from the conflict with Israel and Riyadh could decide to “once again finance acquisitions for the benefit of the Lebanese Armed Forces, or even aid to the Lebanese economy”, suggests an expert on the matter in Paris.
The two countries also call for a ceasefire in Gaza and a “political outcome” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the “two-state” solution.
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, is engaged in talks with Washington to normalize relations with Israel and grant US security guarantees.
But in mid-September, the crown prince ruled out recognition of Israel before the “creation of a Palestinian state”.
The offensive launched in Syria by rebel groups led by Islamists against the regime of Bashar al-Assad also reopens a new front of instability.
The presidential visit will have an important economic component on Tuesday as the kingdom, the world's leading exporter of crude oil, is committed to accelerated diversification to face post-oil potential.
The two countries aim to “very significantly strengthen” their economic exchanges which are not “up to common ambitions”, underlines the Elysée.
Contracts
The Head of State will be accompanied by around fifty bosses of large French groups (Total, EDF, Veolia…) and start-ups (Pasqal, Alan, Mistral…) emblematic of the economy of the future .
The two countries want to initiate cooperation in all sectors of the future, from energy transition to artificial intelligence, in line with the crown prince's vast program to modernize Saudi society and the economy (Vision 2030).
Discussions are also underway for the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets by Saudi Arabia. “The president's visit could make it possible to reach a decision, not necessarily an announcement,” according to a source close to the matter.
France is also a key partner of Riyadh in cultural and tourism matters, with the development of a $20 billion megaproject around the oasis and archaeological site of Al-Ula, north of Medina (northwest). ).
Emmanuel Macron will attend the One Water Summit on water management on Tuesday in Riyadh before joining Al-Ula on Wednesday, notably with the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, with announcements in perspective.
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