French President Macron Tells Crown Prince Salman That 'He Is Worried'

#CrownPrinceInG20 | HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with @EmmanuelMacron, President of France, on the sidelines of the #G20Argentina Leaders' Summit 🇸🇦🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/peeEjKGgEo

— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) November 30, 2018

The Independent: Macron heard warning bin Salman after Saudi crown prince tells him not to worry: 'I am worried'

Elysee says video shows 'contrast between MbS's face sporting an embarrassed smile and the president's stern face', during extraordinary exchange about murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Yemen war.

An extraordinary exchange between Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has been caught on video.

In audio of the conversation, which covered the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the ongoing Yemen war, it is possible to make out Saudi Arabia‘s de-facto leader saying “Don’t worry,” to which the French president responds: “I am worried”.

The Saudi Gazette newspaper posted a video of the meeting online, showing the two speaking in hushed tones with their heads close together on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina.

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Update: French president Macron at G20 laments ‘You never listen to me’ in talk with Saudi leader (FOX News)

WNU Editor: The above video is a must see if you are curious to see how two leaders from two different cultures address an issue where there is a difference of opinion.

France And Saudi Arabia Issue Joint Statement That Any Iranian Nuclear Deal Must Not Destabilize The Region

© REUTERS/ Christophe Ena/Pool

Reuters: France, Saudi Arabia: Iran nuclear deal must be verifiable, no threat to region

France and Saudi Arabia believe that any future nuclear accord between Iran and six major powers must be robust, verifiable and no threat to Tehran's neighbors, the two countries said ahead of a summit in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia invited French President Francois Hollande, whose country is deemed to have the toughest stance among the six world powers negotiating with Iran, to Riyadh to discuss regional issues with Gulf Arab leaders who fear a rapprochement with Tehran could further inflame the region.

"France and Saudi Arabia confirmed the necessity to reach a robust, lasting, verifiable, undisputed and binding deal with Iran," Hollande and the new Saudi King Salman said in a statement after meeting on Monday.

"This agreement must not destabilize the security and stability of the region nor threaten the security and stability of Iran's neighbors," the statement said.

Update: Saudis, French Seeking Regional Balance in Iran Deal -- Sputnik

WNU Editor: This is now of those situations where I wonder who approached who first to make this joint statement.

The Growing France - Saudi Arabia Alliance

French President Francois Hollande (L) meets with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh on December 29, 2013. Press TV

Hollande In Saudi To Talk Regional Politics, Business -- International News

RIYADH: French President Francois Hollande met Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday on a visit aimed at boosting commercial ties and addressing escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The monarch highlighted a "convergence" of positions between the two countries on several issues, a member of Hollande´s entourage said.

Saudi state news agency SPA said the two leaders discussed mutual cooperation and "regional and international developments."

The French president is also due to meet Lebanon´s former premier Saad Hariri and Syrian opposition leader Ahmed Jarba in the kingdom, an entourage member said.

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More News On The The Growing French - Saudi Arabia Alliance

Saudi Arabia to give Lebanon $3-billion to strengthen national army, buy French weapons -- AP
Hollande in Saudi to talk regional politics, commerce -- Global Post/AFP
French president says will supply arms to Lebanon army if asked -- Reuters
Saudi Arabia, France cosying up, Hollande arrives in Riyadh -- NVO News
French president meets Saudi King in Riyadh -- Press TV (Iran)

France Wants To Sell Billions In Arms To Saudi Arabia

France Tries To Supplant US As Saudi Arabia's Arms Supplier -- Al- Monitor

Three issues are on the desk of French President Francois Hollande and Saudi King Abdullah: Lebanon, Syria and Iran.

The top priority of the French president, who's visiting Saudi Arabia Dec. 29-30, is to conclude an unprecedented arms deal with Saudi Arabia, thus exploiting the chill in US-Saudi relations and entering the oil region’s largest arms market, which has spent more than $70 billion during in one decade to accumulate the region’s largest arsenal.

Hollande wishes to gradually supplant America in this market in case America keeps retreating from the crises of the Middle East and Central Asia, and if America’s nuclear understanding with Tehran is consecrated.

Listening to one of Elysee’s advisers review the French rapprochement with Saudi Arabia helps one understand the nature of future expectations, and how the two countries are working together to tackle upcoming events, not only in Lebanon, but also in French-Arab relations.

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My Comment: The French are well placed to replace the U.S. in supplying weapon systems to the Gulf .... what I am surprised about is the lack of U.S. response to this development.