French President Macron to host Saudi Crown Prince MBS in Paris for talks
Energy, regional conflicts, and bilateral cooperation to dominate Emmanuel Macron and Mohammed bin Salman's discussions.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman will discuss oil pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz during a two-day visit to Paris, according to French sources. The talks will focus on alternative oil export routes following Iran's effective closure of the Strait after US and Israeli military actions in February.
The Strait is a critical route for about 20% of global crude oil shipments. Macron's adviser noted that there are various options for bypassing the Strait, including new pipeline constructions, capacity upgrades, and twinning projects in Saudi Arabia and other countries. The Crown Prince's visit, which began on Sunday night with the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup, marks the first time the event is held outside Saudi Arabia.
Macron and the Crown Prince have not met in person since December 2024, when Macron visited Riyadh. Bilateral meetings and a business forum are scheduled for Monday, with Iran's war and its regional repercussions expected to dominate the agenda. Macron's adviser acknowledged the difficulty in ending the conflict, which has been ongoing for months.
The French leader secured a short-term diplomatic win when US President Donald Trump signed an interim agreement with Iran aimed at ending the war, but the agreement was abandoned when Iran resumed attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil-exporting company, is currently studying an expansion of its East-West pipeline and the establishment of new export routes in response to Iran's pressure campaign on maritime transport in the region.
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- France's Macron and Saudi Crown Prince to discuss oil pipelines to by-pass Strait of Hormuz thenationalnews.com
- A closer look at the Strait of Hormuz after Iran issues new threat egyptindependent.com
- Emmanuel Macron welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for two-day Paris visit gulfnews.com
- Paris to host Saudi-French investment roundtable during Crown Prince’s visit saudigazette.com.sa
- Saudi crown prince heads to France as Paris seeks closer Gulf ties rfi.fr
