French President Emmanuel Macron underlined the importance of diversifying energy sources during his talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), according to a statement from the French Presidency.
Emmanuel Macron hosted Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader at a dinner at the Elysee Palace yesterday as Western efforts to reach out to the oil-producing country amid the war in Ukraine and as talks to revive the international nuclear deal with Iran are bogged down.
France and other European countries are seeking to diversify their energy sources after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Moscow’s use of energy exports as an economic and political weapon against the West.
The French president is seeking to extract from Riyadh a commitment to increase oil production.
For his part, Mohammed bin Salman thanked the French president, expressing his gratitude for the “warm welcome” he had received in Paris, in a visit that drew protests from human rights defenders.
The crown prince adds that the talks with Emmanuel Macron “confirmed our common will to strengthen the strategic partnership between our two friendly countries in all fields, to continue coordination on issues of common interest and to strengthen security and stability in the area”.
The crown prince’s message states that Mohammed bin Salman departed France “after completing his official visit”.
It was Mohammed bin Salman’s first visit to France since the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by a squad of Saudi agents at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018.
A lawsuit for complicity in torture and disappearance in connection with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was filed in Paris yesterday against the Saudi crown prince by the NGO Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), which was founded by the murdered journalist, and the Swiss Trial International .
Khadija Cengiz, Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancee, expressed her disgust at Emmanuel Macron’s reception of Mohammed bin Salman.
According to US Intelligence, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia was the one who ordered Khashoggi’s murder. He disclaims responsibility.
MBS is praised for introducing reforms in his country, but criticized for the crackdown on dissidents in religious, political, cultural and economic circles, even within the Riyadh royal family.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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