Macron and Mohammed bin Salman Convene Strategic Partnership Council

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Paris on August 23 and 24 for a two-day diplomatic visit. The leaders convened the first meeting of the Franco-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council to structure political, economic, and security ties, focusing on cooperation in health, transport, aviation, and technology. The visit concluded with the signing of several bilateral agreements aimed at supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals and maintaining France's strategic presence in the Gulf.

Security and regional stability dominated the bilateral talks. Macron and Mohammed bin Salman discussed the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, as well as tensions involving Iran, Lebanon, and Syria. A primary focus was the diversification of energy and logistics transport routes to find alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz, including the development of regional rail, pipelines, and maritime routes. The discussions also touched upon a recent defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye.

Beyond diplomacy, the Crown Prince attended the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup at the Grand Palais. The event, originally established in Riyadh in 2023, was relocated to Paris this year due to the conflict involving Iran. While the agenda focused on strategic coordination, it remained unclear if the leaders addressed human rights issues, specifically the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.