Kathmandu— French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) for a two-day state visit beginning Sunday evening in Paris, starting with the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup before shifting focus to discussions on regional security and strengthening bilateral ties. The visit comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its partnerships and address pressing issues including conflicts in Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon, while France aims to bolster economic investment and maintain its role as a key defense supplier to Gulf nations. Several agreements related to health, transport, and energy are expected to be signed during the meetings on Monday.

Regional Security Concerns Dominate Agenda

Officials anticipate discussions will center around energy routes that could circumvent the Strait of Hormuz, including potential new pipelines, capacity enhancements, and alternative port networks. The leaders will also address ongoing conflicts in Iran, Gaza-Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. Macron’s advisor acknowledged the difficulty in finding a resolution to the six-month-old conflict, stating, “It’s difficult to see a way out.”

The visit follows Saudi Arabia's recent signing of a trilateral defense pact with Turkiye and Pakistan on August 7, known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. This agreement commits all three nations to consider an attack on one as an attack on all, signaling Riyadh’s efforts to broaden its security alliances beyond traditional partnerships with Washington.

Strengthening Franco-Saudi Economic Ties

Bilateral meetings and a business forum are scheduled for Monday, focusing on expanding economic cooperation between France and Saudi Arabia. Several agreements in the areas of health, transport, and energy are slated to be signed during this time. Saudi Arabia is increasingly viewed as a significant investor in the French economy, while France continues to serve as a long-standing supplier of weapons and defense technology to Gulf states.

The discussions will also likely include preparations for major upcoming events hosted by Saudi Arabia, including Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Building on Existing Partnership

This marks Prince Mohammed’s third visit to Paris in recent years, following trips in 2022 and 2023. The meetings build upon the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council established during Macron's state visit to Riyadh in December 2024. The two leaders last met in April in Islamabad, where they discussed de-escalation efforts related to the conflict in Iran and agreed to maintain close communication.

The outcome of these discussions could have significant implications for regional stability, energy markets, and Franco-Saudi relations as both nations navigate complex geopolitical challenges.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.