French President Macron to host Saudi Crown Prince MBS in Paris for talks | Politics News
Macron to Host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for State Visit
Published on August 23, 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron will welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to Paris for a two-day state visit beginning Sunday evening. The visit is scheduled to coincide with the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup, a first for the tournament, which has previously been held solely in Saudi Arabia.
The crown prince will attend the tournament’s final, after which the two leaders will engage in discussions focused on regional security and economic cooperation. A series of bilateral meetings and a business forum are planned for Monday.
According to Macron’s office, the discussions will address significant regional issues and aim to enhance collaboration between France and its partners in the Gulf. Topics expected to be on the agenda include energy routes that could diversify supply chains beyond the Strait of Hormuz, and alternative infrastructure plans, as well as the ongoing conflicts in Iran, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.
Several agreements related to health, transport, and energy are anticipated to be signed during the visit. An adviser to Macron noted that achieving a resolution to the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran remains elusive.
This marks MBS’s third visit to Paris, following previous trips in 2022 and 2023, and it builds on the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council established during Macron’s state visit to Riyadh in December 2024.
The Paris trip is also significant as it is Prince Mohammed’s first international visit following Saudi Arabia’s signing of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Turkey and Pakistan on August 7. This agreement stipulates that an armed attack on one signatory will be regarded as an attack on all, reflecting Riyadh’s intent to broaden its security alliances beyond its traditional partnership with the United States.
This new agreement builds on a mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan established in 2025. Gulf states are currently assessing strategies to minimize their reliance on U.S. security guarantees amid the ongoing ramifications of the Iran conflict.
France has long been a key supplier of weapons and defense equipment to Gulf nations, with Saudi Arabia increasingly positioning itself as an active investor in the French economy. The two leaders last convened in April 2026 in Islamabad, where they discussed the Iran conflict and pledged to maintain close communication regarding de-escalation efforts.
Additionally, topics related to Saudi Arabia’s upcoming hosting of Expo 2030 and the 2034 football World Cup are expected to be included in Monday’s discussions.
