RIYADH — French President Emmanuel Macron made an unexpected visit to Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, as part of a Gulf tour, following weeks of Houthi attacks on Saudi territory.
According to Al Jazeera, citing the Saudi presidency, Macron was scheduled to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss regional security and energy cooperation.
Macron is the first Western head of state to visit Saudi Arabia since Iran-aligned Houthi rebels intensified their attacks on the kingdom earlier this month.
His visit to Riyadh marked the conclusion of a regional tour that also included the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, where he sought to strengthen France’s strategic partnerships with Gulf countries.
The French president said he had secured commitments from Gulf partners to increase energy supplies.
Macron’s office said the Riyadh visit was intended to demonstrate France’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of Houthi attacks and to continue efforts to ensure secure and diversified hydrocarbon supplies.
The visit comes amid heightened regional security concerns, highlighting France’s efforts to reinforce ties with Gulf partners while safeguarding its energy interests.
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