Emmanuel Macron wants to settle the crisis between Beirut and Riyadh during his visit to Saudi Arabia

Emmanuel Macron said in Jeddah that the French President and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Saturday to find a solution to the crisis between Beirut and Riyadh.

The head of state told reporters before leaving the country that “Saudi Arabia and France want to fully engage” with the aim of “re-establishing the relationship” between the two countries after a serious diplomatic crisis. The coast of Saudi Arabia. “We also wanted the (Lebanese) government to work normally, meet as soon as possible, and implement beneficial reforms,” ​​he added, adding that he would invite Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Sunday.

lasting crisis

The economic crisis in Lebanon has been exacerbated for several weeks by the open diplomatic dispute with several Gulf countries. Riyadh recalled its ambassador in Beirut at the end of October and expelled the Lebanese ambassador following statements by Information Minister George Kordahi criticizing the military intervention carried out by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the head of a coalition in Yemen and in defense of the Houthis loyal to Iran. rebels in that country.

George Kordahi has since announced his resignation on Friday. Riyadh also banned imports from Lebanon, and three other Gulf states (Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait) took retaliatory measures against Beirut.

A little later, Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Twitter, that Paris and Riyadh “will work together, support reforms, allow the country to emerge from the crisis and preserve its sovereignty.”