Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh this Monday, December 2. The French president is on a three-day state visit to Saudi Arabia. In the midst of the war in Gaza, in the midst of an offensive by rebels and jihadists in Syria, and at a time of a ceasefire that has been violated several times in Lebanon, France is seeking to cultivate its relations with a country playing an increasingly important role. growing stronger in the region in recent years.
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With our special correspondent in Riyadh, Justine Fontaine
When he got off the plane in Riyadh, Emmanuel Macron was greeted by several cannon shots before heading to the royal palace to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Six years later the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggithe kingdom has become frequentable again in the eyes of many Western countries.
Riyadh is a key interlocutor for Washington or even for Paris when it is necessary to play matchmaker in the region, because it speaks to almost everyone. The country reconnected last year with its great rival, Iran. He is talking with China and has not cut ties with Moscow.
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Maintaining the relationship with Prince Mohammed bin Salman
A few weeks before the return to power of Donald Trump, who promises to reshuffle the cards of American diplomacy in the region, Emmanuel Macron wants even more to take care of the relationship with the crown prince and try to convince Saudi Arabia to finance a part of the reconstruction of Lebanon, where Paris prides itself on having played a key role in obtaining a ceasefire.
Will human rights be discussed during the visit? According to Amnesty International, dozens of people are imprisoned here for crimes of opinion. “ The excellence of the relationship ” between the two countries allows the subject to be addressed, assures the French presidency, while ensuring not ” not [avoir] awareness » of these cases.
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