Saudi Shura Council and French Senate: Talks to strengthen defense partnership
In the context of strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and deepening strategic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic, His Excellency Dr. Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, Vice President of the Shura Council, met at the Council's headquarters in Riyadh with a high-level delegation from the French Senate's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and the Armed Forces, headed by Senator Cédric Perrin. This official visit underscores the deep historical ties that bind the two friendly nations.
Dimensions of the visit and the importance of timing
This visit is of particular importance given the weight of the visiting delegation, which deals with sensitive issues including foreign policy and defense, reflecting the advanced level of partnership between Riyadh and Paris. These talks come at a time when Saudi-French relations are witnessing significant momentum across various sectors, driven by the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which considers France a strategic partner in numerous vital areas, ranging from military and security manufacturing to cultural and economic cooperation.
His Excellency Dr. Al-Sulami welcomed Senator Perrin and his accompanying delegation, emphasizing that parliamentary cooperation is a fundamental pillar and strong support for joint governmental efforts. He noted that activating the roles of parliamentary friendship committees directly contributes to bridging viewpoints and coordinating positions on regional and international issues of common interest, thus serving the interests of both nations and enhancing the prospects for peace and stability in the region.
Talks to enhance bilateral cooperation
Discussions during the meeting focused on ways to develop bilateral cooperation in the parliamentary field between the Shura Council and the French Senate. The two sides also discussed a number of vital issues, exploring prospects for joint work in the areas of defense and foreign affairs, and how to leverage shared expertise to enhance legislative and oversight functions in both chambers.
High-level attendance from both sides
The strong turnout from both sides reflected the importance of the issues under discussion, with the following members of the Shura Council attending the meeting:
- Chairman of the Security and Military Affairs Committee, Lieutenant General Awad Al-Balawi.
- Chairman of the Saudi-French Parliamentary Friendship Committee, Professor Mohammed Al-Hamdi.
- Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Dr. Latifa Al-Abdulkarim.
- Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Professor Abdullah Al-Madi.
On the French side, the delegation included prominent figures in the Senate, namely:
- Senator Rashid Temal, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces.
- Senator Francois Bonneau, Secretary of the Committee.
- Mr. Mark Shore, Director of Administrative Affairs for the Committee.
This meeting comes as part of a series of reciprocal visits aimed at building sustainable bridges of communication between the legislative institutions in the Kingdom and France, in line with the aspirations of the leadership in both countries towards a more prosperous and cooperative future.
