CENTCOM says 660 million barrels of oil crossed Strait of Hormuz
The US Central Command says 660 million barrels of oil have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since May. CENTCOM said it helped commercial vessels transport the oil through the strategic waterway. The command also said more than 1,300 commercial vessels used the route during this period. However, Iran has declared the important shipping route closed […]
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is in Paris for a visit aimed at signing agreements and discussing matters of mutual interest with French leaders. The trip, which began on Friday, is expected to strengthen the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France. During his stay, Prince Mohammed is set to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, as well as convene a meeting of the Franco-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council for the first time.
The agenda for the visit includes discussions on diversifying transport routes for energy and logistics, including maritime routes, pipeline projects, and regional rail initiatives. French officials have highlighted the importance of exploring alternative paths to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane, amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The Saudi delegation consists of seven ministers, and the discussions are expected to cover a range of sectors, such as technology, transport, energy, and health. The visit comes at a time when regional tensions are high, with conflicts in the Middle East involving Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, where France is actively involved in developing energy and logistics projects.
The Crown Prince's visit also includes attending the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup, a first for the event, which is held in Paris for the first time. The event, created and hosted in Riyadh in 2023, is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 project. Prince Mohammed's last visit to France was in 2023, during which he met President Macron and attended a reception for the successful bid to host the 2030 Expo.
Relations between Saudi Arabia and France are strong, anchored by cultural ties and collaborative efforts in the development of the kingdom's historic AlUla region.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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