French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have formalised a strategic partnership in Riyadh, pledging to bolster cooperation and address pressing challenges in the Middle East. The agreement underscores the leaders’ commitment to fostering stability in the region, including a specific focus on Lebanon, where they urged the swift organisation of long-overdue presidential elections. Macron’s visit, the first by a French president to Saudi Arabia since Jacques Chirac in 2006, comes amid escalating tensions in the region and political uncertainty at home, with France’s government facing a potential vote of no confidence.

The three-day state visit highlights France and Saudi Arabia’s intent to strengthen bilateral ties across various domains, such as defence, energy transition, and cultural exchange. Macron’s office revealed plans to collaborate on regional security, including consolidating the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Notably, the French president seeks Saudi support for Lebanon’s army and political stability, as the country grapples with severe economic and governmental crises. Both leaders also called for renewed efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict, advocating a two-state solution as the foundation for peace between Israel and Palestine.

Macron’s trip coincides with heightened violence in Syria, where opposition fighters have seized Aleppo, and a backdrop of strained Saudi-Israeli relations, with Riyadh maintaining its stance on recognising Israel only upon the establishment of a Palestinian state. The visit also reflects a broader effort to deepen economic ties, as Macron is accompanied by a delegation of business leaders from sectors such as energy, artificial intelligence, and defence. While discussions are underway about Saudi Arabia’s potential acquisition of French Rafale fighter jets, no announcements are expected during this visit.