French President Emmanuel Macron, leveraging his role in the Lebanon ceasefire, hopes to bring Saudi Arabia back into play in Beirut and strengthen France's influence in the Middle East during a state visit to Riyadh starting Monday.
The head of state, who will spend three days in Saudi Arabia, also aims to project a "new ambition" in relations with this regional power, increasingly present in global issues but still heavily criticized for its human rights record.
Macron’s visit comes just weeks before Donald Trump's return to the White House, a key partner for Saudi Arabia during his first term, though relations had eventually soured.
This is the French president’s third trip to Saudi Arabia since 2017, a "very dense relationship" reciprocated by three visits to France by the country's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
"This is about (elevating) the relationship to the level of a strategic partnership" for the next decade, the Élysée Palace explained on Saturday, encompassing geopolitical issues and the accelerated modernization of Saudi society and economy.
A Channel with Iran
"It is also about consolidating France’s position as a key and reliable partner for Saudi Arabia in all areas," including future-focused sectors like artificial intelligence and quantum physics, the French presidency added.
In Lebanon, where Riyadh was once a significant player, particularly financially, the goal is to "see how we can work together to consolidate the ceasefire" and "accelerate" a resolution to the political crisis paralyzing the country, the Élysée noted.
The kingdom, an active supporter of the Sunni community—which holds the post of prime minister—has largely disengaged from Lebanon in recent years due to the growing influence of Hezbollah, backed by Iran.
Macron will also hold a "discussion" with the crown prince to explore ways to strengthen the Lebanese army, which is redeploying in the country’s south between Hezbollah and Israel but is critically under-resourced. France plans to provide "engineering and demining capabilities," the Élysée specified.
Macron and Mohammed bin Salman will also address the conflict in Gaza and relations with Iran, with which Riyadh has recently mended ties after being its top rival for years.
"The Saudis have a significant diplomatic channel with Iran that has largely helped limit regional escalation during the most tense moments," said Camille Lons, an expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Paris.
For France, the interest lies in "seeing how to leverage relations with Saudi Arabia on broader regional stabilization issues," she added.
Human Rights
The two leaders, who will have multiple meetings and dinners, also aim to "deepen their personal relationship," the Élysée noted.
Human rights remain a significant sticking point, a topic likely to gain attention as preparations for the 2030 World Expo and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which Riyadh is the sole contender to host, progress.
"Emmanuel Macron should not turn a blind eye to these serious abuses under the pretext of intensifying the partnership" with Saudi Arabia, said Bénédicte Jeannerod, France director at Human Rights Watch.
"The strength of our relationship allows us to address all issues, including these," the Élysée countered.
On Tuesday, Macron will participate in the One Water Summit on water management in Riyadh. On Wednesday, he will visit the oasis and archaeological sites of Al-Ula, which Riyadh aims to transform into a global cultural and tourist gem with French support.
Valérie Leroux, with AFP
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