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The Saudi Press Agency reported that Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot in the French capital. The talks occurred on the margins of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s state visit where the ministers assessed longstanding relations between the two countries and charted paths to broaden collaboration in support of shared interests while addressing recent regional developments and their consequences for security across the Middle East. Senior Saudi officials joined the session including Undersecretary for Multilateral International Affairs Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Ambassador to France Dr. Faisal Al-Mujfel and Eng. Fahad Al-Harthi who directs the general department for secretariats of councils and committees.
Saudi Press Agency figures show bilateral trade expanded by roughly 43.8 percent between 2021 and 2025 to reach nearly $12 billion with machinery boilers and related equipment forming a significant share of exchanged goods. French direct investment in the Kingdom has exceeded €16 billion as Paris-based firms engage with Saudi diversification projects under Vision 2030. These economic metrics illustrate the practical foundation underpinning the diplomatic dialogue that Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his counterpart advanced during their Monday meeting.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began the two-day state visit on Sunday at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron with an agenda that includes signing pacts on health transport and energy cooperation. The Saudi Press Agency noted that the trip builds upon the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council created after Macron’s visit to the Kingdom in December 2024. Discussions have also encompassed Middle East dynamics in line with the countries’ repeated emphasis on stability.
Saudi Arabia and France co-hosted a United Nations conference in July 2025 that produced a declaration outlining tangible steps toward a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. Prince Faisal bin Farhan urged countries to endorse the document before the General Assembly session concluded according to a Reuters dispatch from the event. This collaborative approach on global flashpoints informed the scope of the ministers’ conversations in Paris.
The visit has featured additional exchanges between Saudi and French leaders on regional peace initiatives that echo earlier European-Arab gatherings aimed at detailing post-conflict arrangements in Gaza. Such coordination reflects sustained alignment between Riyadh and Paris on challenges that affect both energy markets and international security. Monday’s ministerial meeting therefore forms one element within a wider framework of engagement that spans economic deals and diplomatic strategy.
Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi’s participation highlights the multilateral dimension that Saudi diplomacy applies to regional files while Ambassador Al-Mujfel’s longstanding role in Paris helped coordinate the logistics of the encounter. The Saudi Press Agency detailed how these officials contributed expertise drawn from their respective portfolios during the discussions. The overall engagement underscores the depth of institutional ties that have developed between the two foreign ministries over successive years.
