French President Emmanuel Macron begins his two-day Gulf tour today, Friday, arriving first in Dubai before heading to Qatar in the evening, and then on Saturday to the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The French president will meet with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. According to the French presidency, the tour will address key strategic issues in the region: combating terrorism and extremism, the Lebanese crisis, elections in Libya, and the Iranian nuclear issue among others.
The Élysée Palace confirmed that Macron "maintains his commitment" since the start of his presidential term in 2017, aimed at "contributing to the stability" of the region stretching from "the Mediterranean to the Gulf." An adviser to the president explained that France presents itself as "a balancing power by promoting dialogue with and among various actors" in the region and "as a key and reliable partner."
However, despite all efforts, Macron has not achieved the desired results, especially in Lebanon and Libya. The French president may address the diplomatic crisis between Lebanon and Gulf countries, which led Saudi Arabia to halt all Lebanese imports. In this context, the diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, Anwar Gargash, confirmed last Tuesday that in light of regional crises, "countries like France have a role to play," stating, "Our positions are very close" on strategic issues.
According to Gargash, "several contracts" will be signed on Friday in Dubai, without revealing details. There may be an announcement regarding the purchase of dozens of "Rafale" fighter jets by the UAE to replace 60 "Mirage 2000" aircraft acquired by the Gulf state in the late 1990s, according to Agence France-Presse. Macron is accompanied by a large delegation of ministers, business leaders, and officials from companies such as Airbus, Thales, Air Liquide, and EDF. Commenting on Macron's visit to Saudi Arabia and his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the French presidency emphasized that "the kingdom is a key player in the region," clarifying that "we cannot imagine having an ambitious policy (in the Middle East) without an in-depth dialogue" with the kingdom, the key economy in the region and a member of the G20.
