June 16 () –
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has received this Friday the Saudi crown prince, Mohamed bin Salmán, in Paris in the framework of an official visit in which the two parties plan to discuss issues of a bilateral and international nature, including the latest movements of reconciliation in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.
The French president greeted the crown prince upon his arrival at the Elysée with a handshake and a slight approach to his cheek, as a sign of cordiality. The image does not contrast much with that of his previous visit last summer, when Macron opted for another handshake, although on that occasion it was longer.
Macron will put on the table in a working meeting with Bin Salman issues related to regional stability in the Middle East, as well as the great current international “challenges”, such as the war in Ukraine “and its consequences for the rest of the world”, has indicated the Élysée in a statement.
The first tour of European countries that Bin Salman made after the death of the journalist Jamal Jashogi, assassinated in 2018 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, is long gone, especially due to the leading role that Riyadh has acquired in recent months after its reconciliation with Iran, as well as for his role as a mediator in the war in Ukraine and in the Sudanese conflict, the latter together with the United States.
The regional rapprochement between the two rival powers has also led to progress in the peace process between the internationally recognized Yemeni authorities, supported by Riyadh, and the Houthis rebels in the context of the war unleashed in 2015 in Yemen, backed by Tehran.
The Saudi crown prince plans to participate on June 22 and 23 at the summit ‘For a new global financial pact’, which is being held in Paris, and also at a reception in the French capital on Monday to support Saudi Arabia’s candidacy. to the International Expo 2030.
