MBS meets Macron: Bilateral relations, regional issues and energy to dominate agenda

Emmanuel Macron is all set to welcome Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to a lunch meeting at the Elysee Palace – the official residence of the President of France – on Friday.

The visit could be longer and the discussions more multifaceted, compared to MBS’s previous trip to the country last July. The trip this time is expected to see the two leaders discuss bilateral relations as well as the latest developments in a number of issues of common interest.

Additionally, the visit comes against a backdrop of several other upcoming events, including an International Bureau of Expositions meeting and a Summit organized by France to discuss a new Global Financing Pact – due to take place on June 22 and 23.

Four Major Objectives Of The Summit

During the Summit, the French president plans to bring together numerous willing countries to find solutions for the issues at stake – repercussions of the multiple economic, health, energy and climate crises, especially in the vulnerable countries.

The funds required to get rid of these problems will also be vital to the event.

The four major objectives of the Summit include,

1. Promoting the development of the private sector in low-income countries
2. Bringing a fair energy transition in emerging and developing countries through enhanced investment in green infrastructure
3. Helping countries vulnerable to climate change
4. Restoring fiscal space to countries facing short-term difficulties

Issues Of Common Interest Between France And Saudi Arabia

The one-on-one luncheon meeting between the two leaders also follows the recent announcement of the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a change that has caught France’s attention. Recently, Iran has been reported to also reconcile with Egypt.

The Elysee responded to it by saying: “There is in this normalisation of diplomatic relations with Iran a potential for easing tensions in the region that must be verified.”

Therefore, the Friday meeting offers an opportunity to review the effects this restoration of relations could have on the several issues of common interest between France and Saudi Arabia, especially those concerning Lebanon, Syria, and the Iran nuclear deal.\

ALSO READ: Reconciliation on the Horizon? Assessing Egypt and Iran’s Diplomatic Engagement

War In Ukraine To Stay Under The Spotlight Too

Outside of the region, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine will not be ignored despite the density of topics on the agenda.

Paris said it does not have specific requests to make to Riyadh on this issue, apart from the request made to all its partners to treat the war like a conflict with international implications.

Like all its partners, Paris wants the Saudis to help speed up the end of the brutal conflict. From a French viewpoint, an end to the war would mean victory for Ukraine, leading to peace negotiations with Moscow aimed at restoring the war-ravaged nation’s sovereignty and security.