Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received on Wednesday a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron. Their talks focused mainly on Gaza situation and the Red Sea security.

During the phone conversation, they reviewed bilateral relations between the Kingdom and France. They discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in various fields, in addition to a number of topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues, as well as their repercussions, and the efforts made to address them so as to achieve security and stability in the region and the world.

Meanwhile, the Elysee Palace said in a statement that the two leaders, in their call, underscored the urgent need to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza, which guarantees the protection of all civilians, the entry of large-scale emergency aid, and the release of all hostages, including three French citizens. Macron expressed France’s firm opposition to the Israeli attack on Rafah, which can lead only to a humanitarian catastrophe of a new magnitude. With regard to humanitarian aid, the French president indicated that France is on full alert, and is continuing with its partners to provide humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza.

The statement noted that, on the political level, the French president stressed that the two-state solution, which includes the establishment of a Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security, is the only one option capable of meeting the security needs of Israel and the Palestinian people and catering to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians. Macron emphasized that the two-state solution is a matter that is to be given a decisive push and irreversible solution to which France is prepared to contribute.

During the discussion with the Crown Prince on the regional situation, the French president stressed the need to stop the escalation in Lebanon and the Red Sea. He also recalled the messages that France sends to all regional parties, especially to Iran, on this issue.

The Elysee Palace statement said that France is ready to work alongside Saudi Arabia and the Arab and Islamic Contact Group, whom Macron met last November, to stop escalation of conflict in the region and work to create conditions to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

“With regard to the French-Saudi bilateral relationship, the two sides welcomed the strategic partnership that binds the two countries and deepens their bilateral cooperation. The French president and the Saudi Crown Prince discussed areas in which this cooperation could be strengthened, including defense, energy and culture,” the statement said, adding the French president discussed in particular on the economic corridor project between India, the Middle East and Europe, which has become more important than ever in light of the increasing instability in the Red Sea.