French President Emmanuel Macron met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Oct. 21, adding a Saudi stop to a Gulf tour focused on energy security and regional stability.
France's presidency said Macron's Oct. 19-21 itinerary listed Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. AFP reported that the Riyadh visit had not been announced in advance, making it an added stop outside the published schedule.
The Saudi Press Agency said the crown prince received Macron at Al-Yamamah Palace. The two reviewed bilateral ties and cooperation, and discussed developments in the region and internationally, including coordination on security and stability, the agency said.
Macron said France offered help to rehabilitate and secure a Saudi pipeline site in Yanbu. He said French personnel had been deployed for eight days by Oct. 21 and described the role as defensive. “We are alongside Saudi Arabia’s security and defense,” Macron said, in remarks translated from French.
France's presidency said the wider tour's agenda included regional stability, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, energy diversification and security, and stronger economic and strategic ties. The presidency also tied its energy policy to reliable supplies and safe transport routes. In Doha, Macron said the UAE and Bahrain had pledged an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel a month for France, and that Saudi Arabia had also made a diesel commitment, according to EconoTimes' earlier coverage.
On Oct. 13, Saudi Civil Defense said falling missile debris injured four people and caused limited damage at 15 homes in Riyadh. The debris came from two intercepted cruise missiles that it said were launched by Houthi militia.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation separately said two attacks on Oct. 8 targeted airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft. The attacks killed three Saudi citizens and injured an unspecified number of people.
