Visit by Jean-Yves Le Drian to Saudi Arabia (16-17 January 2020)

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is visiting Saudi Arabia from January 16 to 17.

He will notably meet with his counterparts, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah al-Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Adel al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Jean-Yves Le Drian will talk to his interlocutors about all regional issues of common interest:

• in a context of strong regional tensions, he will reaffirm France’s willingness to focus every effort on facilitating a de-escalation in order to preserve the stability and security of the region as a whole;

• he will underscore the need to continue the fight against terrorism within the framework of the Global Coalition against Daesh;

• he will also reaffirm France’s support for the ongoing discussions between the different parties to the conflict in Yemen.

These meetings will provide an opportunity to take stock of the strengthening of bilateral relations between France and Saudi Arabia, notably in the economic and cultural spheres. The minister for Europe and foreign affairs will visit the site of Al-Ula, a symbol of the cooperation between France and Saudi Arabia in the area of heritage.

In the context of the Saudi presidency of the G20 and in advance of the G20 finance ministers’ meeting on February 22 and 23, Jean-Yves Le Drian will reaffirm France’s priorities: reform of the international trade system, the fight against climate change and the protection of biodiversity, reform of the international tax system and the strengthening of gender equality.

Lastly, he will meet with the French community in Riyadh.