Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has departed for France on a state visit, according to reports from Saudi state media and the French presidency. The trip comes at the direction of King Salman, as confirmed by the Saudi royal court.
The Élysée Palace said the crown prince is scheduled to arrive in Paris on Sunday, where he will hold discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron. According to the French presidency, the talks are expected to cover regional crises and ways to strengthen the partnership between the two countries, as reported by the Saudi outlet Okaz.
The visit was first announced through a statement from the Saudi royal court, which said the crown prince left the kingdom heading to the French Republic for an official state visit. The Arabic-language news outlet Al Arabiya also confirmed the departure, citing directives from King Salman.
Bloomberg Asharq, the Arabic-language arm of Bloomberg, framed the trip as a new chapter in Saudi-French relations, touching on areas from investment to security. The outlet noted that the visit is expected to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, though specific details of the agenda have not been publicly disclosed.
The trip marks another high-level engagement between Riyadh and Paris in recent years, as both governments have sought to expand economic and political ties. France has been a key partner for Saudi Arabia in areas including defense, energy, and cultural exchange, and the two sides have coordinated on Middle East policy issues.
Observers will be watching for any public statements or agreements that emerge from the Macron-Mohammed bin Salman meeting, particularly on regional security matters and potential investment deals. The visit is expected to last several days, with further details likely to be released by both governments as the schedule unfolds.
