While facing a turbulent and difficult election campaign, Emanuel Macron addresses the issue of foreign relations, and the Middle East countries are in his sights.
Macron paid an official visit to Abu Dhabi and Riyadh is equipped with a complete vision, whose stated goal is to strengthen the moderate Sunni axis, headed by Saudi Arabia.
Macron's first step is a diplomatic effort to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, after Riyadh returned the ambassador from Beirut following remarks by the Lebanese information minister, which were perceived as critical of the Saudi authorities.
Macron initiated a triple phone call with the participation of Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati and Regent Ben Salman.
"We have sent a message that we and the Saudis are fully committed to Lebanon," the French president told reporters.
But while Macron's intervention as a mediator in favor of France's longtime ally is seen as an almost desirable act, the French president has managed to extract a significant economic achievement for him, aiding in the demonstrated support for the Sunni axis he expressed during his visit.
During Macron's stay in Abu Dhabi, the emirates signed a deal to purchase 80 Rafael advanced fighter jets and dozens of French-made helicopters, valued at more than $ 19 billion.
At a time when Washington-Riyadh relations are particularly tense in the face of the Biden administration's reservations about the Saudi Crown Prince's conduct, Macron is taking care to reach out to the monarchy and the moderate Sunni axis in general. The huge series of deals won by the French president during his visit to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi testifies more than any of the speeches to Macron's readiness to curb human rights violations in the Saudi regime, with the intention of curbing regional threats like Hezbollah and Iran, and maintaining stability in the region.
Across the Persian Gulf Macron's gestures were well felt, and Tehran's rage was not long in coming.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Said Khatibzadeh attacked Macron and France, saying the French intervention in the sale of weapons to various regimes in the region fueled its conflicts.
"We just can not ignore the role that France is playing in creating instability in the region," the Iranian said.
Indeed, Tehran is unhappy with Macron's entry into the role previously held by President Trump, Saudi Arabia's biggest supporter in the West.
Macron and heir to the United Arab Emirates, Photo: AFP
However, even as part of the French embrace of Riyadh there are some boundaries, which Macron made sure to clarify well during his visit.
"Our support for stability in the region does not mean that we accept any action taken by the Saudi government," Macron said, referring to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Hashukaji at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by Riyadh's intelligence.
And the proof of that was not long in coming.
On Tuesday, French police arrested a Saudi citizen suspected of taking part in a cell that murdered and dismembered the journalist.
The arrest soon turned out to be an embarrassing mistake in identification, but it testified to the readiness of Paris, despite the great rapprochement with Riyadh, to also place an unpleasant sight in front of the Saudi authorities.
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