French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, for a two-day visit focused on strengthening bilateral ties and discussing major international issues. The visit, which began on Sunday, is expected to cover cooperation in areas including health, transport and energy, along with developments in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia's growing role in hosting major global events.

The two leaders are scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup in Paris on Sunday evening. The event brings together leading competitors from various esports disciplines, including computer games and chess, and is being held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time. Mohammed bin Salman has strongly supported the development of Saudi Arabia's esports sector as part of the kingdom's broader efforts to expand its international cultural and sporting profile.

Several agreements are expected to be signed on Monday covering sectors such as health, transport and energy, according to a French presidential official. Macron and Mohammed bin Salman will also chair the first meeting of the Saudi-French strategic partnership council. The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation between the two countries and expanding their partnership across economic and strategic areas.

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Regional security is also expected to feature prominently during the visit. Saudi Arabia, a close US ally that has historically had tense relations with Iran, is closely monitoring developments in the region. Macron's office said the two leaders would discuss key regional issues and coordinate with Gulf partners on efforts to promote stability and peace in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is simultaneously preparing to host major international events, including Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Human rights could also remain an important issue in the background of the discussions, particularly because of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. A United Nations investigation characterised his death as an extrajudicial killing and held Saudi Arabia responsible, while US intelligence agencies determined that Mohammed bin Salman had approved the operation. Riyadh has rejected that conclusion and attributed the killing to rogue operatives.

Macron's engagement with Mohammed bin Salman has continued despite the controversy surrounding the Khashoggi case. In December 2021, Macron became one of the first Western leaders to meet the Saudi crown prince in Saudi Arabia following the killing. Mohammed bin Salman has since made several visits to France, reflecting the continued development of political and economic ties between Paris and Riyadh.

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