Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Written Message from UAE President
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired the first French-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council meeting.
- The leaders launched initiatives to strengthen cooperation, particularly in defense, economy, and energy sectors.
- They emphasized shared visions for Middle East stability and addressed climate change and technological solutions.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron convened the inaugural meeting of the French-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, signaling a strengthened alliance between the two nations. The meeting, held during the Crown Prince's official visit to France, saw the launch of several initiatives aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across key sectors.
Both leaders highlighted the historic depth of the relationship between France and Saudi Arabia, marking the centenary of their political ties. They expressed a mutual aspiration to enhance the existing strategic partnership, which gained new momentum following President Macron's visit to the Kingdom in December 2024. This collaboration is intended to foster friendship, trust, and mutual respect, aligning with their common interests and addressing global and Middle Eastern challenges.
A significant outcome was the adoption of a declaration strengthening defense cooperation, encompassing armaments and training. This commitment aims to increase coordination for mutual interests and contribute to global security and stability. The leaders also lauded the robust economic and trade ties, noting a bilateral trade volume of approximately $11.8 billion in 2025.
In the energy sector, discussions focused on the importance of global energy market stability, supply security, and the protection of maritime routes. Both sides acknowledged Saudi Arabia's role in enhancing supply chain resilience and energy source sustainability. They stressed the need for enhanced cooperation in oil, petrochemicals, renewable energy, energy storage, peaceful nuclear energy, clean hydrogen, and emission reduction technologies, alongside climate issues and related solutions.
Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.