French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a two-day visit in Paris, a meeting that underscores the deepening ties between France and the Gulf kingdom. The agenda spans from the closing ceremony of the e-sports World Cup to high-stakes discussions on energy, defence, and the war in the Middle East.
The visit, which began on Sunday, will see several bilateral agreements signed on Monday covering health, transport, and energy, according to an official at the French presidency. The Élysée Palace said the leaders would address the "major economic and strategic issues that underpin the Franco-Saudi partnership," with particular focus on aerospace and defence.
A strategic partnership council takes shape
For the first time, Macron and the crown prince will chair a meeting of the Franco-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, a body designed to institutionalise cooperation between the two countries. The Élysée described the visit as reflecting "the vitality of the dialogue between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France" and helping to "strengthen the strategic partnership that binds our two countries."
The opening event on Sunday evening was the closing ceremony of the e-sports World Cup, held in Paris for the first time outside Saudi Arabia. The crown prince, known as MBS, has been a driving force behind the kingdom's push into gaming and e-sports. The Élysée framed the event as evidence of "France's renewed appeal as a host for major international sporting events" and as a symbol of the shared ambition to make sport and culture drivers of rapprochement.
While the official agenda is dominated by economics and security, the visit is not without controversy. Eight years after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, human rights concerns remain a shadow over MBS's international rehabilitation. A UN investigation described Khashoggi's death as an "extrajudicial execution for which Saudi Arabia is responsible," and US intelligence concluded that MBS "approved" the operation. Riyadh has consistently denied these allegations, blaming rogue agents.
Macron was among the first Western leaders to meet MBS after the killing, travelling to Riyadh in December 2021. A subsequent visit by the crown prince to Paris in July 2022 drew sharp criticism from French politicians. Green party leader Yannick Jadot protested at the time, asking whether the dinner menu included "the dismembered body of journalist Jamal Khashoggi" or rather "oil and arms." Julien Bayou, then head of Europe Écologie-Les Verts, accused France of being "a doormat for dictators in search of rehabilitation."
Despite such criticism, the relationship has flourished. Saudi Arabia's status as the world's leading crude oil exporter has made it an indispensable partner for Europe, particularly as the continent seeks to reduce its reliance on Russian energy following the invasion of Ukraine. The EU's push for windfall taxes on oil majors reflects the broader tensions between energy security and corporate profits, but for Paris, Riyadh remains a key player in ensuring stable supplies.
The crown prince's itinerary also includes discussions on regional stability, with the Élysée noting that the leaders would "exchange views on the main regional issues, in a context that calls for close coordination between France and its Gulf partners in favour of stability and peace in the Near and Middle East." Saudi Arabia, a close US ally and long-time rival of Iran, is closely monitoring developments in the Islamic Republic amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict.
Beyond politics, the visit has a commercial dimension. The Élysée declined to confirm whether agreements might cover the proposed "Dragon Ball" theme park in Val-d'Oise, a project backed by a Saudi fund and still under consideration. Saudi Arabia is also preparing to host a series of major global events, including the World Expo in 2030 and the 2034 football World Cup, which could offer lucrative opportunities for French companies.
For Macron, the visit is a balancing act between economic pragmatism and moral scrutiny. The French president has defended engagement with Riyadh as necessary for regional diplomacy and energy security, but critics argue that it legitimises a leader accused of human rights abuses. As the two men meet again in Paris, the question of whether justice for Khashoggi will ever be fully addressed remains unanswered.
