In the shadow of Khashoggi, Macron talks with Saudi officials and crown prince Reuters correspondent

Author John Irish

DOHA (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron has met face to face in Saudi Arabia on Saturday with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, becoming Western leader since visiting the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Macron sees Saudi Arabia as a key factor in helping to establish a peaceful alliance with Iran across the region, as well as with its counterparts in the fight against Islamic State militants from the Middle East to West Africa, as well as the anti-Muslim Brotherhood.

France is one of the largest arms suppliers in Saudi Arabia, but has faced many difficulties in re-evaluating its trade due to a Saudi-led crackdown on Houthi rebels allied with Iran in Yemen, which is now one of the world’s most dangerous nations. earth.

Although relations between Paris and Riyadh were hot under Macron’s predecessor, Francois Hollande, France did not gain business benefits.

The relationship has stabilized in recent years even though Macron, before Khashoggi’s assassination, urged opponents to give time to a prospective 33-year-old leader.

Arriving at Jeddah on the shores of the Red Sea, Macron shook hands with bin Salman.

Both smiled before the negotiations that included Iran and Lebanon’s nuclear file https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanon-information-minister-resigns-ease-saudi-spat-2021-12-03, while Macron said he volunteered https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/macron-announces-saudi-french-initiative-solve-crisis-with-lebanon-asharq-tv-2021- 12-04 author bin Salman to work again to find a solution to this problem despite being wary of Iran-backed Hezbollah. [L1N2SP091]

Macron on Friday denied allegations that he accepted the monarchy, adding that a number of regional issues could not be resolved by ignoring the monarchy.

“We discussed everything, without interruption and apparently we were able to talk about human rights,” Macron told reporters after meeting bin Salman.

“It was a direct, hopeful, effective exchange. I still have a similar approach to trying to maintain that approach with leaders to get tangible results.”

Recent contractors have been few and far between, focusing on Al-Ula tourism that seeks to bring the history of the Nabatean empire https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/archaeologists-saudi-arabia-excavate- forgotten kingdoms- 2021-11-02 / #: ~: text = AL% 20ULA% 2C% 20Saudi% 20Arabia% 2C% 20Nov, kingdoms% 20of% 20Dadan% 20and% 20Lihyan, part of Saudi Arabia’s various activities to reduce its wealth to lower oil prices .

Macron’s visit comes at a time when the Gulf Arab states have expressed uncertainty that the US is monitoring the region despite seeking more weapons in Washington.

Saudi Arabia is outraged by the closeness of US President Joe Biden’s leadership, who pressured Riyadh over its history of human rights and the war in Yemen and issued a statement https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-saudi-khashoggi-int / saudi -de-facto-ruler-approved-operation-led-to-khashoggis-death-us-idUSKBN2AQ2OA linking bin Salman and killing Khashoggi.

The Crown Prince has refused to take part in the assassination of a journalist at the Riyadh embassy in Istanbul, sparking international outrage and tarnishing the image of Prince Mohammed.

“Whether intentionally or not, (the trip) contributes to the Saudi princess’ reform process,” said Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International. “It saddens me that France, a country of human rights, is a tool of this policy.”