Macron hosts Saudi’s crown prince for visit ranging from esports to Middle East

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a two-day visit on Sunday, kicking off with the Esports World Cup in Paris. The visit then transitioned to discussions on bilateral agreements, particularly in health, transport, and energy. Macron and the crown prince are set to meet again on Monday to sign agreements and address pressing regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East.

The Esports World Cup, which attracted gamers from around the globe, marked the first time the event was held outside Saudi Arabia. Macron emphasized the significance of the Saudi leader's visit to France, highlighting the depth and dynamism of the Franco-Saudi relationship. However, three journalist unions protested the visit, citing France's investigation into the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi leadership and accusing the trip of being a provocation to media freedom advocates.

Despite these concerns, the visit aims to foster stability and peace in the Middle East, with the Saudi-French strategic partnership council to be chaired by Macron and the crown prince on Monday.