JEDDAH: French President Emmanuel Macron met with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler in Jeddah on Saturday to discuss regional security, particularly crisis-hit Lebanon, after asserting that he has not disregarded Riyadh’s record on human rights.
Macron arrived in the Red Sea city following trips to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar as part of a brief Gulf tour.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted Macron, who was wearing a face mask, at the royal palace before meetings and a meal together.
He is the first Western leader to meet with Prince Mohammed in the country since Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi was murdered and mutilated inside Riyadh’s Istanbul consulate in 2018.
Macron said on Friday that dialogue with Saudi Arabia was vital to “fight for regional stability.”
However, in relation to the Khashoggi murder, he noted, “that doesn’t imply that I approve anything.”
“I observe that Saudi Arabia organised the G20 summit…not many states boycotted the G20,” Macron stated, despite the Khashoggi issue.
“We have always been unequivocal on the question of human rights or this particular situation.”
Riyadh has termed the assassination as a “rogue” operation, although both the US Central Intelligence Agency and a United Nations special rapporteur have clearly tied Prince Mohammed to the death, which the monarchy categorically rejects.
During his talks with Prince Mohammed, Macron is anticipated to bring up the example of Lebanon, where an economic crisis has been exacerbated by a diplomatic spat between Beirut and several Gulf governments, particularly Saudi Arabia, which has banned imports.
His efforts are expected to be aided by the departure of Lebanese Information Minister Georges Kordahi, whose words about Saudi engagement in Yemen’s war started the controversy.
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