The relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic have been growing in various domains, including politics, economics, culture, and defence. Both countries share common ground on multiple issues of mutual interest, making the Riyadh-Paris relations of utmost significance. This importance is further amplified given the rapid regional and international transformations that necessitate the exchange of perspectives and synchronized positions with friendly nations, with France being a prominent partner.
Historical archives provide ample evidence of the deep-rooted and enduring Saudi-French relations, as well as their solid partnership that continues to advance with strength and steadfastness across all areas of cooperation and coordination. Over the past six decades, the two countries have maintained consistent cultural collaboration, actively working together to enhance various aspects such as museum development, the film industry, and heritage preservation. Currently, they are jointly engaged in a sustainable development project for AlUla, with France focusing on improving the city’s cultural and tourist infrastructure due to its rich historical significance, World Heritage Sites, and potential.
Under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic, both countries’ diplomacy and foreign policy aim to contribute to international endeavours that seek security, stability, and global peace, with a specific focus on the region. France views the Kingdom as a reliable ally with a crucial role in upholding peace and stability in the region, leading to ongoing coordination between the French and Saudi leadership to find solutions to global issues and crises.
The Kingdom actively cooperates with France in counterterrorism efforts, as demonstrated by Riyadh’s contribution of USD 100 million to counterterrorism efforts within the Sahel Alliance. Riyadh and Paris share common perspectives on several regional and international matters, including Lebanon and Sudan. The French government has praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts in seeking a political resolution to the Sudanese crisis and providing humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people.
Furthermore, the Kingdom greatly values France’s support for its bid to host World Expo 2030, which serves as a testament to the growing Riyadh-Paris relations across all levels and fields.
The diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and France were established in 1926 when France dispatched its inaugural consular to the Kingdom. In 1932, France established its diplomatic mission in Jeddah, further solidifying the diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Efforts to strengthen Saudi-French relations entered a new phase after King Faisal bin Abdulaziz’s official visit to France in 1967, where he met with President Charles de Gaulle. This visit laid the foundations for robust relations between the two countries across all fields.
The history of Saudi-French relations has witnessed the exchange of official visits by leaders and senior officials, contributing to the enhancement of Riyadh-Paris coordination on various issues. In 1986, when he was the governor of the Riyadh Region, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, alongside then-president Jacques Chirac, inaugurated the Saudi exhibition in Paris, highlighting the Kingdom’s history, heritage, and development.
In 1997, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, visited the Republic of France and signed a Pact of Cooperation and Friendship between the cities of Riyadh and Paris with the Mayor of Paris, Jean Tiberi. This visit further solidified the already thriving relations between the two cities.
Continuing the momentum and consolidation of these exceptional relations, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, visited France in 2018. The purpose of this visit was to strengthen and advance the relations between the two countries in line with joint programs and development projects, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The focus was on diversifying the economic base and enhancing existing investment partnerships.
During HRH the Crown Prince’s visit in 2018, 19 protocols of the agreement were signed between French and Saudi companies, amounting to a total value of over USD 18 billion. These agreements spanned various sectors such as petrochemicals, water treatment, tourism, culture, health, and agriculture.
In December 2021, HRH the Crown Prince received President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic. During their official talks, they reviewed the historical and strategic relations between Saudi Arabia and France in all fields. Both leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing joint action and advancing bilateral relations, based on trust and common interests, to open new promising horizons for the strategic partnership.
On the sidelines of the visit, the two countries signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of culture, tourism, digital technology, and space. Additionally, they agreed to establish the French Cultural Center (Villa Al-Hajar) in AlUla governorate and to establish a facility for the production of aircraft structures (military industries) and maintenance of aircraft engines.
During the visit, the President of the French Republic commended the Saudi Green and Green Middle East initiatives, highlighting the importance of cooperation to implement these initiatives. Furthermore, France and Saudi Arabia are exploring opportunities to develop clean hydrogen production in the Kingdom and its various applications as part of the transition towards economies with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic emphasize the significance of adhering to the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. They recognize the need to develop and implement climate agreements with a focus on emissions reduction, including through the circular carbon economy approach, which provides a comprehensive framework to address global warming.
Cooperation in the field of security and defence is a prominent aspect of the bilateral relations between the two countries. The mutual visits between military and security officials underscore the convergence of political views and the strengthening of security and military cooperation. This cooperation includes security training, and arming the land, sea, and air forces in the Kingdom. In 1429 AH, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France signed a security agreement about the security and defence forces.
In the economic sphere, Saudi Arabia welcomes the growing cooperation of French companies in sectors aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, such as energy, water and waste management, sustainable cities, transportation, civil aviation, mobility solutions, the digital economy, and health. Additionally, France aims to attract Saudi investments in the public and private sectors, including new technologies, emerging companies, and future industries. Similarly, Saudi Arabia seeks to enhance its private sector investments in the French market.
The Kingdom and France enjoy robust relations in the energy sector, contributing to oil refining, petrochemical production, the electricity sector, renewable energy, security of electrical stations and networks, service reliability, and the exchange of experiences in electrical interconnection. The number of French companies investing in the Kingdom has increased from 259 in 2019 to 336 in 2022.
Efforts were made by both countries to strengthen bilateral investment relations and forge long-term partnerships between the private sectors of Saudi Arabia and France. This was accomplished through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the “Leadership of National Companies” program at the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the “Business France” program.
Saudi Arabia and France have established several joint projects, notably the SATORP refinery, a collaboration between Saudi Aramco and French Total Energy. Additionally, Électricité de France (EDF) leads a consortium for the development of a wind farm project in Dumat al-Jandal governorate. Partnerships in the logistics sector, including the Capital Metro Company (CAMCO) in Riyadh, have also been formed.
French companies operate across various sectors in Saudi Arabia, including transport, aviation, oil, energy production, renewable energies, water, waste recycling, and construction. They are currently focusing on sectors such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, culture, hospitality, agricultural technologies, biotechnology, and health.
The Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of France, Catherine Colonna, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster energy cooperation last February. The MoU encourages collaboration in electricity, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, smart grids, oil and gas, refining, petrochemicals, distribution, and marketing.
The memorandum also emphasizes technology cooperation to mitigate the effects of climate change, including carbon capture and storage, hydrogen production, and other technological innovations. It further outlines areas of cooperation in digital transformation, localization of materials, products, and services in the energy sectors, supply chains, joint research with universities and research centres, and capacity building through training and knowledge exchange.
Recently, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, led an official visit to France accompanied by officials and leaders from the industry and mineral resources sector. The visit aimed to review bilateral relations in the industrial and mining sectors and attract high-quality investments to Saudi Arabia. Additionally, it sought to establish new channels of communication between investors from both countries.
The Minister of Industry also participated in the Business Forum between the Gulf States and France, known as “Vision Golfe,” held in Paris. The forum provided a platform for engagement and collaboration between French and Gulf ministers and aimed to advance the shared vision of both regions.
The two countries look forward to maximizing the opportunities presented by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and France’s 2030 Investment Plan to strengthen their economic partnership across various sectors, including joint investment, industry, energy, culture and heritage, tourism, education, technology, space, defence, and security.
In 2022, Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports to the French Republic reached SR 1.3 billion, while imports totalled SR 14.7 billion. Top Saudi exports to France included petrochemicals, building materials, food products, and medicines. The Kingdom’s imports from France primarily consisted of food products, heavy machinery, electronics, and cars.
The Saudi Industrial Development Fund has contributed SR 4.5 billion to fund approximately 27 joint projects between the two countries in various industrial and mining sectors. Major commodities exported by the Kingdom to France include mineral products, organic chemical products, aluminium and its products, and plastics. On the other hand, the Kingdom’s imports from France consist of pharmaceutical products, essential oils and cosmetics, cars and their parts, and machinery and machine tools and their parts.
Cooperation between universities, technical colleges, and think tanks of both countries has expanded, fostering collaboration in scientific research, development, and innovation. Currently, there are 996 Saudi students studying in the French Republic, while the total number of French students studying in Saudi Arabia is 259.
Furthermore, both countries are committed to strengthening the strategic partnership between France and the Gulf through a joint action plan for 2023-2028. This plan focuses on cooperation opportunities in artificial intelligence, green logistics, and stimulating development in tourism, sports, and entertainment.
The visit of HRH the Crown Prince to the French Republic, along with his participation in the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, reflects the Kingdom’s leadership role, global position, and influence. It demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to cooperating with France in addressing mutual challenges to regional and global security and stability.
The goals of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact align with the Kingdom’s efforts to confront climate change through various initiatives, most notably the Saudi and Middle East Green initiatives, the adoption of a circular carbon economy, along with the Kingdom’s commitment to work with partners to make the Paris Climate Agreement 2015 a success.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
