French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) for a two-day visit in Paris.
The visit began with Macron attending the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup alongside MBS.
The tournament is being held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time, covering competitions ranging from video games to chess.
Bilateral talks and a business forum are scheduled for Monday, focusing on regional security and economic cooperation.
Discussions are expected to cover alternative energy routes that could bypass the Strait of Hormuz, including pipelines and alternative ports.
The Iran conflict, Gaza and Palestine development, and Lebanon and Syria are also expected to feature prominently.
France and Saudi Arabia are due to sign agreements covering health, transport and energy.
The visit also builds on the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council established during Macron’s 2024 visit to Riyadh.
MBS’s trip comes shortly after Saudi Arabia signed a defence agreement with Turkiye and Pakistan. The pact commits the three countries to treating an attack on one as an attack on all.
Saudi Arabia’s upcoming Expo 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cup are also expected to feature in discussions.
