Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, concluded a two-day official visit to France, during which 21 agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed in multiple sectors.
The Saudi Crown Prince and French President Emmanuel Macron chaired the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, which was announced during Macron’s visit to Saudi Arabia in December 2014, and launched new initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation in all areas.
In a joint statement, both sides affirmed their aspiration to strengthen the strategic partnership, on the occasion of the centenary of the establishment of political relations between the two countries, stressing the importance of this partnership in confronting regional and global challenges.
Hot regional issues
Both sides welcomed the agreement to disarm Hamas, called for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, affirmed their rejection of any infringement on the Palestinian people's right to their own state within the 1967 borders, called for a halt to settlement activity and settler violence, and supported holding Palestinian elections.
Regarding Lebanon , they stressed the full implementation of Resolution 1701, the disarmament of non-state armed groups, the withdrawal of Israel from Lebanese territory, and support for state institutions under the leadership of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
The Saudi Crown Prince and the French President affirmed their commitment to a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear program, called on Iran to resume cooperation with the Atomic Energy Agency, and condemned the attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The two leaders condemned the Houthi targeting of Saudi infrastructure and commercial vessels, and affirmed their support for the Presidential Leadership Council and the United Nations' efforts.
The Saudi Crown Prince and Macron stressed the need to stop foreign interference and end the crisis in a way that preserves Sudan’s sovereignty and stability.
They welcomed the establishment of a joint Saudi-Syrian-French Business Council and emphasized the importance of Syria's economic recovery and its role as a bridge between Europe, the Gulf, and Asia. They also highlighted
the historic defense cooperation and significant investments.
The two sides adopted a declaration to enhance defense cooperation in the areas of armament and training, while praising the growth of bilateral trade to $11.8 billion in 2025.
In the energy sector, they agreed to strengthen cooperation in oil and petrochemicals, renewable energy, peaceful nuclear energy, clean hydrogen, and emissions reduction technologies, with a focus on stabilizing global energy markets. A
€6 billion entertainment project in Paris.
Both sides welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Qiddiya Investment Company to develop a major global destination in the Cergy-Pontoise area of the Île-de-France region, at a cost of up to 6 billion euros, which includes entertainment facilities, hotels, and cultural and sports experiences.
Extending the partnership in Al-Ula until 2035
The two sides decided to extend the Saudi-French partnership on Al-Ula until 2035, within a developed framework that reflects the cultural and heritage cooperation between the two countries.
Agreements in defense, health and artificial intelligence
The visit witnessed the signing of 21 agreements and memoranda of understanding in the fields of defense, health, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and entertainment, and they also welcomed France’s participation in Expo 2030 Riyadh.
Both sides praised the success of the third edition of the Esports World Cup in Paris, and affirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in culture, youth and sports.
