French President Emmanuel Macron is set to hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on his second visit to Paris in less than a year. The two leaders will hold discussions at the Elysee palace on bilateral relations, as well as Middle Eastern and international issues.
Prince Mohammed's last visit to France took place in July 2019 when he dined with Macron at the Elysee palace during his first tour of Europe following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The killing damaged the kingdom's ties with the West and resulted in the vilification of Prince Mohammed in the US and Europe.
Since then, Macron has strengthened France's ties with Gulf Arab nations, particularly in the defense sector, as Houthi rebels in Yemen launched attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, targeting their energy infrastructure.
The two countries also have cultural ties, with France involved in the development of the historic Al Ula region in Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohammed is aiming to turn the area into a global tourist destination.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Saudi Crown Prince and his alleged involvement in the Khashoggi murder, Macron has maintained a diplomatic approach. The French president sees Saudi Arabia as a key partner in the Middle East and has sought to build and maintain strong ties with the country.