French President Emmanuel Macron has landed in the Saudi capital, a surprise stop on his Gulf tour after weeks of Houthi attacks on the kingdom, according to his office.
– He is the first Western head of state to visit the country since Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia this month.
– Macron’s flight from Qatar concludes his regional Gulf tour, where he has sought to develop strategic partnerships with visits to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain.
– The French leader said he had secured pledges of additional energy supplies from Gulf partners.
– Macron will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the president’s office said.
– The visit is “to demonstrate France’s solidarity with the Kingdom in the face of attacks launched by the Houthis against its territory, and to continue efforts aimed at securing and diversifying hydrocarbon supplies,” it added.
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