French President visits Saudi Arabia; Iran, Lebanon and Yemen discussed

Riyadh – French President Emmanuel Macron visited Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The visit is said to be part of Macron’s Middle East tour. The French President has also visited the UAE and Qatar during the visit. During his visit to Saudi Arabia, President Macron met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Macron became the first Western leader to meet the Saudi Crown Prince in two years.

Since Friday, the French President has been on a tour of themiddle Middle East countries. On Friday, he visited the UAE for the first time. He then visited Qatar on Saturday morning and arrived in Saudi Arabia. According to French sources, Macron’s visit is for the region’s stability. An $18 billion deal for Rafale fighter jets was signed during the UAE tour between France and the UAE. During a visit to Qatar on Saturday morning, France said the two sides discussed Afghanistan and Iran issues.

The French President will discuss the Iran and Lebanon issues during the Saudi visit. France has taken the initiative for Lebanon, facing instability for the past year. The Middle East states are among the leading donors to Lebanon. But in the past few months, Lebanon’s relations with these countries have soured and there are indications that Macron will hold talks with the Saudi leadership to find a solution.

Although there have been several rounds of talks on Iran’s nuclear program, no concrete solution has been reached. European countries, including France, have taken a stand supporting the Iran nuclear deal, whereas countries like Saudi and UAE are opposed to the agreement. Against this background, it is being said that French President Macron will hold discussions with the Saudi Crown Prince on the Iran issue. It has also been noted that the French President has good relations with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. France is one of the largest suppliers of arms to Saudi Arabia.