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
Local sources report that a car bomb explosion has targeted the General Security headquarters near the Baniyas Court in the Tartous countryside, western Syria
Israeli artillery strikes target Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: IOF arrest leader Jamal al-Tawil, who was liberated as part of the prisoner exchange, from his home in al-Bireh.
Palestinian media: 'Israel' launches two airstrikes on eastern Khan Younis, Gaza.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions in eastern Gaza City.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The National Armed Forces will remain on alert and mobilized in the face of this extremely dangerous provocation.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: This is not a defense exercise, but rather a military aggression aimed at turning the Caribbean into a space for violence and US hegemony.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The government of Trinidad and Tobago has surrendered the country's sovereignty to act as a military colony serving US interests.
Rapid Support Forces attack El-Fasher, west Sudan.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One martyr and one wounded in an Israeli drone attack on the town of Hafir, west of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon.

Macron, MBS discuss importance of diversifying energy supplies

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Jul 2022 17:32
  • 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

Italian Eni CEO says Europe still has no energy security plan

EU declares largest global Ukraine support package of $200 billion

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

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)
Politics

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

A Russian cargo train arrives at Astara Railway Wharf, March 2018 (IRNA)
Economy

Tehran, Moscow to finalize INSTC rail project next month

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addresses the media after submitting his candidacy for the Islamic Republic's upcoming presidential election in Tehran on June 3, 2024 (AP)
Politics

UNSCR 2231 termination marks major win for Iran’s diplomacy: Qalibaf

ap
Politics

'Israel' killed 40 Palestinian children in West Bank since January: UN

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