Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi: We have always supported Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity at all times, we still do in these difficult circumstances.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi from Beirut: Lebanon's independence and territorial integrity are of great importance to Iran, we support it against occupation.
Israeli army admits 3 soldiers of rank of Staff Sergeant were killed, 2 others injured in northern Gaza.
Occupied Palestine: Palestinian media: Martyrs and injuries as a result of the Israeli occupation firing on displaced people while they were waiting for aid west of Rafah.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: 3 martyrs, including a child, as a result of Israeli occupation forces bombing displaced persons' tents in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Yedioth Ahronoth: Concern in "Israel" over changes within the US administration in recent days.
Al-Qassam Brigades says its fighters are engaging in fierce clashes with the occupation forces, killing and wounding soldiers east of Jabalia camp.
Israeli media platforms are circulating preliminary reports about a multi-causalty ambush in Jabalia camp, Gaza.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 35 martyrs, 75 injured in occupation targeting of civilians seeking food aid in Rafah, Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Da Silva: What is happening in Gaza is not a war, it is a genocide

Macron, MBS discuss importance of diversifying energy supplies

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Jul 2022 18:32
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Despite the anger of human rights advocates, MBS makes his first visit to Europe since the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018.

  • x
  • Macron, MBS discuss importance of diversifying energy supplies
    French President and Saudi Crown Prince

In his first visit to Europe since the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Mohammed Bin Salman was welcomed Thursday, July 28, with a long handshake by Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysée Palace, where he was invited for dinner.

The two agreed to collaborate on "intensifying their cooperation to ease the effects (of the war) in Europe, the Middle East, and the world," Macron's office said Friday, after talks in Paris that marked the full diplomatic rehabilitation of the Saudi leader.

"The President of the Republic underscored the importance of close coordination with Saudi Arabia on diversifying energy supplies to European states and introduced the FARM [Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission] initiative," the statement read on Friday.

France is not the first country to seek negotiations with the Saudi regime. Greece had recently signed an array of negotiations with Saudi entrepreneurs in a bid to satisfy its energy needs in the plight of the EU blockade on Russian oil. 

As he left the palace, bin Salman expressed his "deepest gratitude and appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality" in a statement posted online by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.

He later went to stay overnight at his chateau Louis XIV in Louveciennes, dubbed the "world's most expensive home" at the time of purchase, a property that was built by Jamal Khashoggi's cousin Emad.

Read more: MBS in Greece then to France as Western energy crisis deepens

Outrage among human rights groups 

Outraged human rights groups were quick to comment on the meeting due to MBS' suspected role in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Senior left-wing MP Alexis Corbiere told BFM television on Friday that "he's shaking the hand for a long time of a man whose hands are covered in blood," calling MBS "the chief butcher of the slaughter" in Yemen. 

Related News

CNBC unveils strategic plan to revitalize Syria energy sector with US

Syria to sign deal to import electricity from Turkey, minister says

For Macron's allies, it is rather a matter of priority for ensuring the country's basic needs. The question of human rights is raised loudly, before disappearing under the weight of "realpolitik", economic interests, and arms contracts. 

But questions are raised with regards to Saudi Arabia's capacity to fully satisfy France and the EU's energy needs. Analysts say the OPEC meeting which is scheduled for August 3 will be decisive to know if member countries, including Saudi Arabia, will continue to assess market conditions and do what is necessary.

"There are partners, countries that do not all share the same democratic values as France," French Public Services Minister Stanislas Guerini, a close ally of the President told Europe 1 radio.

"I believe it would be a mistake to not speak, to not try to make things happen," he added. "French values, the voice of France, human rights, were carried last night, as always, by the president." 

Read more: Macron hosting MBS; duplicity or diplomacy?

MBS' rehabilitation

Macron's decision to host the controversial royal sparked fierce criticism at home from human rights groups and left-wing opponents. Throughout the day, reviews of this visit poured in from all sides. 

While #SaudiArabia's Crown Prince #MohammadbinSalman is looking for readmission into the international fold, rights groups are slamming his visit to #France, barely four years after the murder of #Saudi journalist #JamalKhashoggi, as totally inappropriate. pic.twitter.com/CjySVXJB8q

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 29, 2022

Head of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard told AFP she felt "profoundly troubled by the visit." “There is really a rehabilitation at the international level of MBS. And this individual is a murderer,” Agnès Callamard told France Inter.

The latter had conducted an investigation into the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, columnist for the Washington Post and fervent critic of the Saudi regime when she was UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions.

On her part, Hatice Cengiz, fiancee of the Saudi journalist killed at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, said, "I am scandalized and outraged that Emmanuel Macron receives with all honors the executioner of my fiancé."

"The surge in energy prices because of the war in Ukraine cannot justify that in the name of an alleged realpolitik we absolve the person responsible for the Saudi policy towards political opponents which leads to their killing, as was the case for Jamall," she added.

Read more: EU states intend to ask for exemptions from plans to reduce gas demand

  • Emmanuel Macron
  • MBS
  • Energy crisis

Most Read

Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025
It may well be due to the longstanding relationship between MI6 and HTS, via Inter Mediate, that Britain was the first Western country to recognise their assumption of government in Syria. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

How MI6 helped HTS seize Syria

  • Opinion
  • 31 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Army commanders tour the operations sectors of the Iraqi army Seventh Brigade, in Anbar, Iraq, Sunday, December 29, 2019 (AP)
Politics

Kataib Hezbollah warns US forces against postponing Iraq withdrawal

(@rafaelmgrossi)
Politics

Egypt urges 'Israel' to join NPT, citing regional nuclear imbalance

AP
Politics

US deal proposal allows Iran to enrich Uranium to Low-Level: Reports

screengrab
Politics

Former Biden spox. Matthew Miller says 'Israel' committed war crimes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS