His visit to France comes as the prince has sought to rehabilitate his image abroad following the 2018 killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. While Saudi Arabia denies the prince’s involvement, U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed he likely ordered Khashoggi’s killing as part of a wider crackdown on any challenge to his rule.
In the time since, Prince Mohammed has sought to portray Saudi Arabia as a possible mediator amid Russia’s war on Ukraine and has used its position as the dominant member of the OPEC+ oil cartel to try and boost global energy prices. The prince also seeks to build megaprojects across the kingdom to create new jobs for Saudi Arabia’s youthful population.
However, challenges and international suspicions remain. Saudi Arabia remains mired in its yearslong war with Yemen. Executions in Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s top executioners, have spiked after the coronavirus pandemic. A top French official, speaking anonymously in accordance with the presidency’s customary practices, said France wants to convince Saudi Arabia to engage with Russia on a plan to end the war while preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Macron also planned to discuss human rights as France firmly opposes the death penalty, the official said.