Saudi Defense Minister Meets with Several Heads of Leading French Industrial Companies

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz during the meeting. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz during the meeting. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Minister Meets with Several Heads of Leading French Industrial Companies

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz during the meeting. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz during the meeting. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held a meeting in Paris on Wednesday with several heads of leading French industrial companies as part of his official visit to France.

They reviewed promising cooperation opportunities in the field of military industries, research and development, as well as technology transfer and localization in accordance with the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Prince Khalid had kicked off his visit with a meeting with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu.

In a post on the X platform, Prince Khalid said he reviewed with Lecornu “our strategic relations, defense cooperation and shared vision for regional security and stability.”

He revealed that they presided over the signing of an executive plan for “cooperation on capabilities, military industries, and R&D” between the Saudi Defense Ministry and French Ministry of Armed Forces.



French President to Visit Saudi Arabia in December

France's President Emmanuel Macron holds the 9th edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise (Dictionary of the French Academy), which is the official dictionary of the French language during the solemn session of presentation, in Paris on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron holds the 9th edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise (Dictionary of the French Academy), which is the official dictionary of the French language during the solemn session of presentation, in Paris on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
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French President to Visit Saudi Arabia in December

France's President Emmanuel Macron holds the 9th edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise (Dictionary of the French Academy), which is the official dictionary of the French language during the solemn session of presentation, in Paris on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron holds the 9th edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise (Dictionary of the French Academy), which is the official dictionary of the French language during the solemn session of presentation, in Paris on November 14, 2024. (AFP)

The Elysee Palace announced on Friday that French President Emmanuel Macron will carry out a state visit to Saudi Arabia in early December at the invitation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The visit, between December 2 and 4, will be an opportunity for both sides to bolster the partnership between Saudi Arabia and France, said the Elysee.

Crown Prince Mohammed and Macron held telephone talks on Thursday to discuss regional developments and efforts to restore security and stability.

They also discussed bilateral affairs and cooperation in several fields, said official sources.

A Saudi official delegation, including the ministers of foreign affairs, culture and investment, is currently in Paris to participate in the meeting of the joint Saudi-French committee to develop the AlUla province.

Advisor to the French President for the Middle East and North Africa Anne-Claire Legendre was in Riyadh this month for talks on the Middle East and bilateral relations.

Crown Prince Mohammed had visited France in June 2023 to bolster bilateral ties and to hold talks on “challenges to regional instability,” as well as international affairs, such as the war on Ukraine and its impact on the world.

Macron, for his part, has visited Saudi Arabia in 2017, 2018 and 2021.

French sources hailed the relations between France and the Kingdom, underscoring the latter’s role on regional, Arab and international levels, highlighting Riyadh's hosting this week of the Arab-Islamic summit.

They said Israel’s war on Gaza and Lebanon, regional tensions, and the security of the Gulf will be discussed by Crown Prince Mohammed and Macron.