Saudi Arabia – Conversation between Jean-Noël Barrot and his Saudi counterpart, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs (January 22, 2026)

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs spoke with his Saudi counterpart, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21 2026.
Both men emphasized the need to work toward stability in the Middle East, particularly in light of recent changes to the regional context in Syria, Iran, Palestine and Yemen.

With regard to Syria, the two Ministers stressed their commitment to the country’s stability and security. They hailed the ceasefire agreement signed on January 18 by President al-Sharaa and General Mazloum, and expressed their desire to contribute to Syria’s recovery and economic development. They also reiterated the need to help strengthen the Lebanese army and the state monopoly on arms nationwide, and agreed to continue their consultations ahead of the international conference in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces, which will take place in Paris on March 5.

The Minister welcomed the announcement that the Gaza Peace Plan was moving to phase 2. The two Ministers also discussed the announced formation of the Board of Peace (BoP), aimed at resolving conflicts beyond Gaza. In this regard, the Minister reiterated the importance of fully implementing UNSC Resolution 2803, and particularly the delivery of humanitarian aid – vital to the people of Gaza – in cooperation with the UN. Both Ministers also reiterated the need for reforms within the Palestinian Authority, in line with the New York Declaration.

The two Ministers emphasized the excellence of French-Saudi bilateral relations in every field and their shared desire to continue deepening the ties between our two countries in every area.