Saudi Arabia and France reaffirm the necessity of resuming navigation in the Strait of Hormuz
- Riyadh and Paris affirm their ambition for a strategic partnership and the enhancement of diplomatic solutions to conflicts
- Announcement of more than 22 agreements and memoranda of understanding
- Expansion of the strategic partnership in defense, culture, tourism, and investment
- Macron: The Crown Prince’s visit is an important step to enhance peace and stability
- Support for Lebanon and Gaza, and commitment to a diplomatic solution that ensures the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program
Saudi Arabia and France affirmed on Monday the “necessity of a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear file issue and avoiding escalation,” and stressed “the need to restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” during Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Paris. The visit saw the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding, with French President Emmanuel Macron describing it as of great strategic importance, regarding it as a prominent and significant step in the trajectory of bilateral relations and in enhancing peace and stability.
Both sides condemned attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and threats to the security of waterways, stressing the importance of restoring navigation in the strait to its normal state as it was before February 28, 2026, by ensuring freedom of navigation, regularity of shipping movements, and the absence of any direct or indirect fees or restrictions on passage, in accordance with international law.
The statement noted that “Paris and Riyadh welcome the announcement of an agreement on the disarmament of Hamas and call for its implementation,” and also “call for an end to Israeli settlement policies and settler violence.”
France and Saudi Arabia expressed their shared vision for stability in the Middle East, based on respecting the sovereignty of states and international law, and seeking political and diplomatic solutions to conflicts and security threats.
The statement noted that Macron and Mohammed bin Salman renewed, during their meeting on Monday, their affirmation of their ambition to enhance the “strategic partnership,” highlighting in particular the historical depth of relations.
The statement added that, in light of this spirit, the two leaders chaired the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council and launched new initiatives, the details of which are outlined in the council’s minutes, aimed at strengthening ties in all areas of cooperation.
They stressed the importance of preserving the territorial integrity of the Palestinian lands and rejected any attempt to undermine the Palestinian people’s right to establish their independent state within the 1967 borders.
Both sides agreed to intensify their efforts to reach a final solution to the conflict in Lebanon, which includes strengthening the Lebanese state and its institutions, and preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statement emphasized that Houthi “provocations” exacerbate the humanitarian suffering of the Yemeni people. The French side also affirmed its full solidarity and support for the Kingdom, reiterating its rejection of any attacks targeting Saudi territory.
Continuing their historic defense cooperation, both sides adopted a declaration enhancing defense cooperation, including in the fields of armaments and training, and committed to increasing coordination between them to pursue common interests and contribute to global security and stability.
At the outset of the second day of the Crown Prince’s state visit to France, Macron received Mohammed bin Salman at the Élysée Palace, and they chaired the Partnership Council.
Earlier, the Crown Prince visited the French Army Museum “Les Invalides” in the French capital, where he was received by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu in the “Cour d’Honneur” of the historic complex, and a formal military reception ceremony was held, during which the national anthems of Saudi Arabia and France were played.
Macron wrote on his X account: “The visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to France represents an important step. Faced with the region’s challenges, France and Saudi Arabia have always called for peace and stability, and they will continue their dialogue in this direction.”
He added, “Our partnership is also shaped through action: major projects, advanced technologies, investments, and international events such as the EWC in Paris. We have already achieved a great deal together. We can go further.”
On the sidelines of Macron’s chairing of the partnership council alongside the Crown Prince, several agreements, memoranda of understanding, and financing solutions were signed in the energy and industrial sectors, enhancing economic and investment cooperation and supporting partnership opportunities between companies and institutions in both countries, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In this context, the two countries welcomed the ambition of Qiddiya Investment Company to develop a major multi-use destination and theme parks in Sarcelles-Pontoise, in the Île-de-France region, combining entertainment, hospitality, culture, and sports within a new integrated destination.
Current ambitions include up to three major entertainment facilities, along with complementary hotels and entertainment experiences, with total investments reaching approximately 6 billion euros over the course of the project’s development.
Speaking at the Saudi-French roundtable meeting, Saudi Minister of Investment Fahad Al-Sayyaf said that French direct investments in the Kingdom have reached 16.3 billion euros (equivalent to $19.02 billion), doubling what they were two years ago, making France the fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment in Saudi Arabia.
