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Saudi Crown Prince Meets President, Members of Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council

The Saudi Crown Prince meets with Rashad Al-Alimi. SPA
The Saudi Crown Prince meets with Rashad Al-Alimi. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Meets President, Members of Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council

The Saudi Crown Prince meets with Rashad Al-Alimi. SPA
The Saudi Crown Prince meets with Rashad Al-Alimi. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Thursday with the president and members of the newly formed Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, expressing the Kingdom’s hope that its establishment would turn a new page in Yemen.

The Crown Prince further stressed Saudi Arabia’s keenness on supporting the country’s security and stability.

The reception was attended by Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of State, Cabinet Member and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Head of State Security Abdulaziz Al-Huwairini, Chief of General Intelligence Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan, and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber.

Meanwhile, Gulf, Arab and other states on Thursday welcomed the Yemeni president’s decision to transfer his powers to the new presidential council, headed by Rashad Al-Alimi.

Saudi Arabia hailed the announcement of Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi on launching the presidential council under the Yemeni constitution and the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanisms.

In this regard, Saudi Arabia announced providing urgent $3 billion support to the Yemeni economy, including $2 billion from the Kingdom and UAE to support the Central Bank of Yemen and a $1 billion Saudi grant for petroleum products and development.

Moreover, Riyadh called for an international conference to support Yemen’s economy and said it would give $300 million to the United Nations aid response to the country’s humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia urged the new presidential leadership council to start negotiating with the Houthis, under the supervision of the United Nations, to reach a final and comprehensive political solution that includes a transitional period that will lead Yemen to peace and development.

In a statement, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the formation of a new presidential council in Yemen with full presidential powers, saying it hopes that such a step will help Yemen complete the transitional phase and move toward security and safety.

“Egypt has followed with the utmost interest the formation of the presidential leadership council in the Yemeni republic, with full presidential powers, to complete the tasks of the transitional phase in Yemen, according to the constitution and the Gulf initiative,” the statement read.

The Jordanian government, for its part, welcomed the new development, expressing full support for reaching a political solution for the Yemeni crisis, based on the approved references, namely the GCC initiative and its executive mechanisms, the Yemeni Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, and UN Security Council Resolution 2216.

Jordan also commended economic support provided by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to support the Yemeni economy, alleviate the suffering of the people and finance the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) announced by the United Nations.

Russia has also welcomed the establishment of the Yemeni presidential council.

“We hope that members of the Presidential Leadership Council will do everything in their power to stabilize the situation in Yemen and restore this historically friendly country to a peaceful life,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

On the GCC level, Bahrain affirmed its full support for the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council to achieve the aspirations of the Yemeni people for security, stability and development, and end the Yemeni crisis through a comprehensive political solution between the different Yemeni components.

Kuwait also praised on Thursday the decision to form the council, a step in line with the Yemeni constitution and the GCC peace initiative. A statement by the foreign ministry expressed the country’s full support to the council’s efforts to achieve stability, peace, and security for Yemen and its people.

Similarly, Dr. Nayef Al Hajraf, GCC Secretary General, welcomed the announcement made by Hadi to complete the implementation of the tasks of the transitional period, in accordance with the Yemeni constitution, and the GCC initiative and its executive mechanism.

From the Egyptian capital, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit lauded the decision, expressing his hope that the new council would lead the country towards peace.

The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hussein Ibrahim Taha, for his part, said he hoped that this declaration would contribute to ending the fighting in Yemen and supporting negotiations between all Yemeni parties.

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Gulf

From Understanding to Implementation: Riyadh and Paris Redraw their Partnership

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 16, 2023. (SPA)
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 16, 2023. (SPA)
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From Understanding to Implementation: Riyadh and Paris Redraw their Partnership

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 16, 2023. (SPA)
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 16, 2023. (SPA)

Saudi-French relations enter a distinct phase with the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Paris. The partnership between the two nations is no longer governed solely by the traditional files that have long formed the relationship's foundation. Instead, it is moving across a broader scope that brings together the economy, technology, energy, defense, and culture, placing project implementation at the forefront of the upcoming period.

The state visit carries a significance that transcends its protocol dimension, coming at a time when both countries are testing the ability of the partnership built over recent years to transition from understandings and agreements into projects with a direct impact. This is taking place as Saudi economic transformations redraw its requirements from international partners, while France is seeking a more firmly established position within the ongoing transformation taking place in the Kingdom.

The holding of the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council for the first time during the visit reflects this transformation in the nature of the relationship. The council, established following President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Saudi Arabia in late 2024, was designed to serve as an overarching framework for relations in political, economic, cultural, defense, and other fields, thereby providing cooperation between Riyadh and Paris with an institutional channel at the leadership level of both nations.

A partnership in search of ‘the project’

In previous years, it was easy to list the fields of Saudi-French cooperation: energy, defense, aviation, transport, culture, and tourism. The new phase, however, appears more closely linked to a different question: what can the two countries build together?

Here, the priorities of Saudi Vision 2030 intersect with French industrial and technological capabilities. Saudi Arabia is expanding its economy outside traditional sectors, searching for advanced technologies, industrial expertise, and investment models capable of supporting sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced industries, health, tourism, hospitality, and new energy.

Conversely, French companies view the Saudi market as one of the world's major new growth arenas, rather than merely a market for products and services. The scale and diversity of Saudi projects grant French firms the opportunity to participate across different phases of the project lifecycle - from design and engineering to operations, localization, and knowledge transfer.

Figures demonstrate the expanding economic base of the relationship. The volume of trade exchange between the two nations reached approximately $11.79 billion (44.2 billion riyals) in 2025. Meanwhile, the stock of direct French investments in Saudi Arabia rose to around $18.52 billion (69.45 billion riyals) in 2024, compared to roughly $7.49 billion (28.09 billion riyals) in 2015, according to data from recent studies on economic relations between the two countries.

Over a single decade, total Saudi-French trade reached around $93.04 billion (348.9 billion riyals), indicating that the economic relationship has become more deeply established than being the product of an individual deal or an isolated project.

Energy: The changing yet continuous relationship

For many years, energy has formed one of the sturdiest bridges in the relationship. However, the nature of this cooperation is shifting with the transformation of the energy sector itself. Moving beyond major partnerships in refining and petrochemicals, most notably "SATORP" between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies, the cooperation agenda is heading toward broader fields that include renewable energy, hydrogen, energy storage, smart grids, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), alongside critical minerals.

This transformation aligns with Riyadh's efforts to build a more diversified energy system, and with Paris's desire to expand the presence of its companies in industrial transformation and low-emission energy projects.

Consequently, energy in the Saudi-French relationship is no longer an isolated file, but has instead become part of reshaping the economy, supply chains, and technologies that will serve both economies during the coming decades.

From supplier to partner

The same transformation applies to defense cooperation. The relationship, which has historically been built on training, armaments, and the development of military capabilities, is gradually moving toward fields more closely tied to localization, technology transfer, maintenance, training, and the development of domestic capabilities.

The Kingdom's direction toward localizing a larger share of its defense industries gives international partnerships a different meaning. The requirement is no longer merely acquiring a military system or platform, but building a sustainable domestic capability around it.

This opens an avenue for French companies to participate in a broader ecosystem that encompasses manufacturing, engineering services, training, and research and development.

Paris as a European gateway... and Riyadh as a regional hub

The economic agenda is inseparable from political developments. Saudi Arabia possesses growing political and economic weight in the Middle East and the Arab and Islamic worlds, while France enjoys permanent membership in the UN Security Council, an influential presence within the European Union, and the ability to maneuver regarding regional files.

Coordination between Riyadh and Paris, therefore, has gained importance that transcends bilateral relations, particularly regarding regional security, the Palestinian cause, Lebanon, Syria, and maritime security.

Amid the disruption of trade and energy routes in the region, the importance of seeking more diversified and resilient pathways to transport energy and goods between the Middle East and Europe also emerges - a file where the economic intersects with the strategic.

Saudi-French diplomatic relations date back to 1926, while France opened its diplomatic mission in Jeddah in 1932. However, King Faisal bin Abdulaziz’s stop in Paris in 1967 and his meeting with President Charles de Gaulle represented a significant turning point in building a deeper political relationship.

Since that time, visits and agreements have continued, leading to a phase in which relations experienced accelerated expansion concurrently with Saudi Vision 2030.

The importance of Crown Prince Mohammed’s current visit lies in the fact that it comes after a long accumulation of agreements and understandings, and in the presence of a new institutional framework for the partnership.

Therefore, the essential task ahead for Riyadh and Paris today appears less connected to proving the strength of the relationship, and more to demonstrating what this relationship can produce.

The equation taking shape between the two countries is no longer: what does France sell to Saudi Arabia, and what does Saudi Arabia buy from France? Rather, it is how both parties can invest the major transformations in their economies and global standings to build shared interests that extend for years to come.

This is precisely what makes the state visit to Paris a milestone in the trajectory of the relationship, rather than merely another routine stop within it.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia and France Seek New Routes for Security and Energy

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the Kingdom in December 2024. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the Kingdom in December 2024. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia and France Seek New Routes for Security and Energy

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the Kingdom in December 2024. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the Kingdom in December 2024. (Reuters)

The visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Paris is not taking place under ordinary regional circumstances. The region is experiencing a phase where wars and maritime security are redefining the concept of economic security, while European countries are facing growing questions about the stability of energy supplies and the resilience of trade routes.

In this environment, the Saudi-French partnership gains a dimension that transcends the boundaries of bilateral relations.

Riyadh and Paris view regional security from two complementary angles: Saudi Arabia from its position at the heart of the Middle East's energy and trade systems, and France from its European and international position, making their coordination of particular importance when it comes to protecting supply lines and opening safer, more resilient alternatives.

The visit is taking place as the two countries seek to discuss the diversification of energy transport routes and logistics, including maritime routes, regional railway projects, and pipelines, in an effort to build a network that does not rely on a single route in a region where geography has become an influential factor in the global economy.

Security is no longer just military

Recent years have shown that energy security neither begins at a production facility nor ends at a receiving station in Europe. The maritime corridor, port, pipeline, power grid, and storage centers have all become links in a single concept of security, and it is here that Saudi and French interests intersect.

Saudi Arabia is in a pivotal position between the Gulf and the Red Sea, while France possesses a military and naval presence in the region, in addition to its position within the European system. This provides both parties with room for coordination in maritime security, the protection of trade routes, and the development of infrastructure linking Asian and European markets.

Energy is changing

The issue is not limited to oil; the Saudi-French relationship is moving toward hydrogen, renewable energy, electricity storage, smart grids, and carbon capture, reflecting the transformation in the nature of the energy market itself.

Saudi Arabia possesses the advantage of resources, vast areas, and investment capabilities, while France has a broad industrial and technological base in energy, engineering, and transport.

If both parties succeed in integrating these advantages, cooperation could shift from merely purchasing energy or developing a facility to building production, transport, and technology systems.

Economy at the heart of calculations

Meanwhile, the volume of Saudi-French trade rose to around $11.79 billion (44.2 billion riyals) in 2025, while the balance of French investments in the Kingdom jumped in less than a decade from around $7.49 billion (28.1 billion riyals) to $18.53 billion (69.5 billion riyals).

However, the figures, despite their importance, do not alone reveal the future direction of the relationship. The greater bet lies in investing in the sectors that will drive the economy over the next decade: artificial intelligence, advanced industries, health, tourism, transport, logistics, and new energy.

Here, Saudi Vision 2030 converges with France 2030 in the pursuit of an economy more reliant on technology and innovation.

Beyond bilateral relations

Paris also holds political value for Riyadh. France is not only a European nation with an advanced economy, but also a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a power with a historical presence in the Middle East.

Conversely, Paris views Saudi Arabia as an actor whose role cannot be bypassed in any broad regional arrangements. The scope of consultation between the two countries has expanded to encompass the Palestinian cause, Lebanon, Syria, and Red Sea security, alongside broader regional developments.

Therefore, the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council, which will hold its first meeting during the Crown Prince’s visit, arrives at an opportune time to transform this communication into a more regular mechanism, linking economic files with political and strategic ones.

Common interests

What Riyadh and Paris are discussing for the upcoming phase does not merely concern a new energy corridor or a new transport project; at its core, it is an attempt to build a network of interests capable of withstanding crises.

The more diversified energy sources and transport routes become, and the more trade paths multiply and technologies and industries are localized, the less vulnerable nations become to sudden shocks.

From this perspective, the Saudi visit to Paris can be read as part of a broader discussion on the shape of the region and the relationship between the Gulf and Europe in the coming years.

Riyadh aims to become a global economic and logistical hub, while Paris wants to maintain an influential European presence in a region reshaping its balances and it is precisely within this space that the interests of the two countries converge.

Gulf

Mohammed bin Salman Heads to Paris to Deepen Ties, Advance Strategic Partnership

An expanded meeting between the Saudi crown prince and the French president in Riyadh on Dec. 2, 2024 (SPA) 
An expanded meeting between the Saudi crown prince and the French president in Riyadh on Dec. 2, 2024 (SPA) 
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Mohammed bin Salman Heads to Paris to Deepen Ties, Advance Strategic Partnership

An expanded meeting between the Saudi crown prince and the French president in Riyadh on Dec. 2, 2024 (SPA) 
An expanded meeting between the Saudi crown prince and the French president in Riyadh on Dec. 2, 2024 (SPA) 

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman is making an official visit to France on Sunday and Monday at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, whose state visit to Saudi Arabia in December 2024 resulted in a broad range of agreements and understandings and the launch of the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council.

The visit will be Mohammed bin Salman’s third to Paris, following trips in July 2022 and June 2023.

The crown prince left Saudi Arabia for France on Friday. The Saudi Royal Court said the visit was being made at the direction of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and in response to Macron’s invitation.

First Strategic Partnership Council meeting

The visit comes in the wake of a major expansion in bilateral relations after the two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement, followed by a memorandum serving as a roadmap for cooperation across political, economic, cultural, artistic and sports fields.

In a statement issued late on Thursday into Friday, the Élysée Palace described the visit as “reflecting the vitality of the dialogue between France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and saying it would help strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. It added that Macron and Mohammed bin Salman would, for the first time, convene the French-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council.

Their first meeting will take place Sunday evening, Aug. 23, at the Grand Palais near the Champs-Élysées, where they will attend the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup, hosted in France for the first time at Saudi Arabia’s request.

The French presidency noted that hosting the major international tournament reflected France’s renewed appeal as a venue for major sporting events following the success of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It is the first time the competition has been held outside the Saudi capital. Sunday evening’s ceremony will include the presentation of prizes after seven weeks of competition involving 2,000 players from 100 countries and 200 clubs, including prominent Saudi teams. Organizers say total prize money amounts to $75 million.

Monday will include an official welcome for Mohammed bin Salman at the Élysée Palace, followed by bilateral talks in the afternoon. Macron and the crown prince will then co-chair the Strategic Partnership Council, which is expected to conclude with the signing of several agreements.

The two leaders will subsequently attend the closing session of a Saudi-French business forum being held in Paris to coincide with the official visit. The day will conclude with an official dinner at the Élysée Palace in honor of Mohammed bin Salman and his accompanying delegation.

According to the French presidency, talks will focus on the major economic and strategic issues underpinning the French-Saudi partnership. The two leaders will also exchange views on key regional challenges amid a situation that requires close coordination between France and its Gulf partners to support stability and peace in the Near and Middle East.

Regional crises on the agenda

French presidential sources said the visit comes amid “a regional crisis that erupted several months ago and whose outcome no one can foresee,” adding that Paris considers the crown prince’s decision to travel to France an “important signal.”

Macron and Mohammed bin Salman are expected to discuss the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, its repercussions and ways of ending the situation, with particular attention to efforts to diversify energy supply routes and improve links between the Middle East and Europe.

Élysée sources stressed that progress had been made on several projects but declined to provide details.

Lebanon will also figure prominently. Paris has called what French sources described as a “preparatory and technical” meeting involving the chiefs of staff of 15 countries, with the United States expected to attend.

France says it is working “closely” with Saudi Arabia on Lebanon and that both countries share a commitment to Lebanese sovereignty and support for the country’s authorities.

Élysée sources also referred to other projects being pursued away from public attention. Indications suggest these concern the expiry of the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, with France and Italy working on a formula aimed at preventing a vacuum. The United Nations has proposed several options.

Syria will also be on the agenda. Paris says it is working with Riyadh on the issue and noted that Macron recently paid an official visit to Syria.

Asked about the defense agreement signed in Makkah on Aug. 8 between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, Élysée sources described it as “an illustration of the new regional architecture” and said it would be “extremely important to hear the Saudi view” of the development.

Searching for a way out of the war

Observers in Paris generally describe Saudi-French relations as “close and productive,” with regular communication between Mohammed bin Salman and Macron and ongoing coordination on Middle East issues, from the US-Iran war to Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea.

Bertrand Besancenot, a former French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said the crown prince’s visit should be viewed in three contexts.

The first is the evolving regional situation, as Gulf leaders consider the best way out of the crisis gripping the region. While they recognize the central role of the United States, they also believe they must explore additional ways to safeguard their security and interests.

The second is Europe’s presence in the region, where European countries have political, economic and strategic interests and a role to play. Coordination with Riyadh, Besancenot said, can help them do so.

He pointed in particular to France’s importance as one of the European countries playing a leading role in the Middle East. Consultation and coordination with Paris could therefore help identify ways out of the current impasse, while also engaging other influential actors, including Pakistan and Türkiye.

Besancenot expects the tripartite Saudi-Pakistani-Turkish security agreement to feature in the Élysée talks.

The third context is the broad strategic partnership between France and Saudi Arabia and the economic, cultural, educational and sports projects they have launched together.

Besancenot also expects other major issues to be discussed, above all the Palestinian file in Gaza and the West Bank.

France and Saudi Arabia last year launched an initiative to revive the two-state solution, which won broad support at the United Nations and prompted major countries, led by France and Britain, to recognize the Palestinian state.

Lebanon and Syria are also expected to feature in the talks, particularly as Paris plans to host a preparatory meeting on Sept. 17 dedicated to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces.

Maritime security is another issue likely to feature. Riyadh convened a conference attended by 43 delegations that led to the launch of a maritime defense coalition to safeguard the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden, with 14 countries committing to participate.

On Aug. 14, Saudi Arabia formally announced the establishment of the Red Sea Maritime Defense Coalition.

A key question now is whether coordination can be established between the European Union’s Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea, launched in February 2024, and the Saudi-led coalition, particularly as both pursue the same objective. That issue could also feature in Monday’s Élysée talks.