French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will meet on Sunday and Monday, August 23 and 24, for bilateral talks on regional issues and economic cooperation, the Élysée Palace announced on Thursday.
The upcoming visit starts on Sunday, coinciding with the closing ceremony of the E-Sports World Cup, a global video game competition organized outside Saudi Arabia for the first time. The French presidency noted that hosting the tournament reflects a shared ambition between the two nations to turn sports and culture into central pillars of their diplomatic rapprochement.
During the summit, Macron and the Saudi prince intend to strengthen bilateral ties and will convene the inaugural session of the France-Saudi Arabia strategic partnership council for the first time. The Élysée stated that the two leaders will address major economic and strategic issues structuring their partnership.
Defense and economic cooperation
Paris and Riyadh have previously signed bilateral agreements for military and economic cooperation, focusing on the aeronautics and energy sectors. The new council aims to build upon these existing commercial and defense foundations.
Macron previously traveled to Saudi Arabia in December 2024 to engage in talks with Saudi leadership. The upcoming meeting provides both governments an opportunity to expand existing treaties and evaluate mutual investments across key industries.
France maintains extensive political and security relationships across the Middle East. The Élysée Palace serves as the official residence and executive office of the French president in Paris.
Regional security and Middle East stability
Talks between the two leaders will focus heavily on major regional issues amid ongoing instability across the region. The French presidency emphasized that current conditions demand close coordination between France and its partners in the Gulf to promote regional stability.
The diplomatic summit takes place against a volatile backdrop marked by ongoing wars and crises in several hotspots, extending from Iran to Yemen and Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia plays a major role in regional governance and energy policy across the Middle East. Mohammed bin Salman serves as Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, acting as the de facto leader of the kingdom from its capital in Riyadh.
Future bilateral meetings
The bilateral discussions scheduled for August 23 and 24 will formally launch the new strategic council framework between Paris and Riyadh. Both governments expect the meetings to establish ongoing channels for political, security, and economic collaboration.
