Bangla Press Desk: French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. He is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday.
The visit is intended to demonstrate France’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid repeated attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Macron is the first Western leader to visit Saudi Arabia since the Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensified their attacks this month, according to Dawn. One of the key objectives of his Gulf tour is to secure supplies of diesel and petrol as he seeks to address growing public discontent in France over the rising cost of living and fuel prices.
The issue has also triggered violent protests in France, creating a political challenge for Macron.
In a statement, Macron’s office said, “The President of the Republic is travelling to Saudi Arabia this afternoon to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”
The statement added that the visit aims to express France’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of Houthi attacks on its territory and to continue efforts to ensure secure and diversified energy supplies.
Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have reached an unprecedented level, disrupting the country’s operations. The attacks have forced Riyadh airport to close and led to the postponement of a major investment conference.
Meanwhile, Houthi efforts to impose a blockade on Saudi ports have also disrupted the country’s oil exports. Maintaining stable energy supplies has therefore become a major challenge for Saudi Arabia.
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