Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron. During the call, the bilateral relations between the Kingdom and France were reviewed, along with ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, in addition to discussing several topics of mutual interest, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The call also included an exchange of views on several regional and international issues and their recent implications, as well as the efforts being made to achieve security and stability.
The Élysée statement on the call indicated that the two sides primarily addressed the urgent need to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza, which ensures the protection of all civilians, the wide entry of emergency aid, and the release of all hostages, including three of our citizens. The French President reiterated France's firm opposition to the Israeli attack on Rafah, which can only lead to a new humanitarian disaster.
Furthermore, regarding humanitarian aid, the French President noted that France is on full alert and is continuing to work with its partners to provide humanitarian assistance to the residents of Gaza. The statement continued that politically, the French President confirmed that the two-state solution, which includes the establishment of a Palestinian state living peacefully and securely alongside Israel, is the only way to meet the security needs of Israel and the Palestinian people, responding to the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians. He emphasized the need to give a decisive and irreversible boost to this solution, to which France is ready to contribute.
The statement also discussed the regional situation, with the French President stressing the necessity of de-escalation in Lebanon and the Red Sea, and recalling the messages sent by France to all regional parties, especially Iran, regarding this matter.
The Élysée statement said that France is prepared to work alongside Saudi Arabia and the contact group (Arab and Islamic), which the French President received last November, to stop the spread of conflict in the region and to create conditions for a lasting peace in the Middle East.
Finally, regarding French-Saudi bilateral relations, both sides welcomed the strategic partnership that connects the two countries and the deepening of bilateral cooperation. The French President and the Saudi Crown Prince discussed areas where this cooperation could be enhanced, including defense, energy, and culture. The French President specifically mentioned the economic corridor project between India, the Middle East, and Europe, which has become more crucial than ever given the increasing instability in the Red Sea.
