Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, traveled to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as the first Western leader. This visit comes as the Houthi rebel group from Yemen has intensified its attacks on Saudi Arabia this month.
Official Reception and Meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince
Macron was welcomed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh by Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Governor of the Riyadh region. After that, he met with Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince.
The purpose of this visit is to demonstrate France's solidarity with Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks and to continue efforts to secure and diversify hydrocarbon supply sources.
Recent Developments and Military Support
Saudi Arabia faced repeated Houthi attacks last month, coinciding with the start of a counter-offensive by the Yemeni government and allied groups on October 5 to reclaim strategic areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Saudi-led coalition announced that on Wednesday, it intercepted five drones launched by the Houthis towards the Eastern Province and the holy city of Medina.
The Houthi group quickly denied Saudi Arabia's claim of targeting Medina, stating that no attack had been carried out towards Saudi territory on Wednesday. Since the start of Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, the group has repeatedly attacked airports and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
Macron also began his Gulf trip in Kuwait, followed by visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. He emphasized to reporters the importance of resuming negotiations with the Houthis to reach a peaceful solution.
In this context, the British Ministry of Defense announced that Typhoon fighter jets from the Royal Air Force will be dispatched to assist in defending Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks. In response to a question about this matter, Macron stated that France's support for the security and defense of Saudi Arabia is ongoing.
Relations between France and Saudi Arabia have significantly developed in recent years, especially under the Vision 2030 project to diversify the economy of the kingdom. The two countries signed dozens of agreements in various fields, including energy and infrastructure, during the Saudi Crown Prince's visit to Paris in August.
