Saudi, French defense ministers discuss strengthening defense cooperation

2026-03-24 - 16:50

RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman met with French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin in Riyadh on Tuesday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries in the defense field and ways to further enhance them. They also discussed current developments in the region and their repercussions on various levels. The ministers condemned the repeated Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. Saudi Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili; Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khalid Al-Bayari; and Advisor to Minister of Defense for Intelligence Affairs Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif attended the meeting. On the French side, the meeting was attended by French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave; Head of the Military Cabinet to the French Minister Lt. Gen. Jacques Fayard; Military Attaché at the French Embassy to the Kingdom Rear Admiral Guillaume Djeri de Lou; and a number of other officials.