TDespite American concerns, French President Emmanuel Macron met on Saturday in the port city of Jeddah for talks with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Macron is the first Western head of state to visit Saudi Arabia since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. He accepted that the press had limited access. At a press conference at the airport in Jeddah, Macron assured the traveling journalists that he had spoken to the Crown Prince about everything without taboos. “We were of course able to address the question of human rights. It was a direct and hopefully effective exchange. The next few weeks and months will show whether we can make progress on the subject. “
He denied the allegation that he legitimized Salman. The various crises in the region could not be resolved by ignoring Saudi Arabia. American President Joe Biden released an intelligence report in February that seriously incriminated Salman. Khashoggi disappeared from the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. His body has not yet been found. Khashoggi had regularly published critical reports on Salman’s actions in the Washington Post.
Emirates invest in France
Macron said he had also discussed the situation in Lebanon with Salman. Riyadh and Paris wanted to support the Lebanese people and work for a better supply of energy and food. The nuclear dispute with Iran was also a topic. Macron said there should be no nuclear weapons in Iran, but neither should there be any short-term escalation. Dialogue with Saudi Arabia as the largest of the Gulf States is a necessity. Saudi Arabia is the largest French arms export customer.
Macron had previously announced a contract for 80 Rafale fighter jets in the United Arab Emirates. He praised the “largest export contract for the fighter aircraft”. The Emirates are also buying twelve Caracal multi-purpose tactical helicopters from Airbus. Furthermore, investments of the Emirates in the French industry in the field of space, transport and renewable energy in the amount of ten billion euros have been agreed.
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