Macron hosts Saudi crown prince for strategic talks

French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a two-day visit to Paris beginning Sunday, August 23, 2026, centered on signing new bilateral agreements and discussing regional stability in the Middle East. The visit marks a further deepening of ties between the two nations and includes the inaugural meeting of a newly formed strategic partnership council.

The crown prince, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, arrived in France on Friday, August 21, at the invitation of President Macron. The visit will officially begin Sunday evening with the leaders attending the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup at the Grand Palais. The tournament, which has the crown prince's active backing, is being held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time. On Monday, August 24, the official program includes an Élysée welcome, bilateral talks, and the first meeting of the Franco-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council. Several agreements covering health, transport, and energy are expected to be signed, following the launch of the council after President Macron's state visit to Saudi Arabia in December 2024.

French officials described the visit as reflecting the...