Saudi Arabia – Meeting between Jean-Yves Le Drian and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud (30 July 2020)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian hosted Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, the Saudi foreign minister, on July 30 in Paris. The two ministers expressed the importance of deepening bilateral relations between France and Saudi Arabia.

The ministers discussed regional issues of common interest. With respect to Libya, Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed the urgent need for de-escalation, a political solution and an end to foreign interference. He underscored the risks of a partial annexation of the West Bank and reaffirmed the importance of the collective mobilization of EU member states together with Arab states. The minister underscored the need to find realistic and effective solutions to the challenges posed by the prospect of an end to the UN embargo on the transfer of conventional weapons involving Iran, notably for regional security and stability. With respect to Yemen, he expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to promote the implementation of the Riyadh agreement and reaffirmed that the only way to put an end to the conflict is through a comprehensive and inclusive political solution.