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| French President Makes Surprise Visit to Saudi Arabia | French President Makes Surprise Visit to Saudi Arabia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — President Emmanuel Macron of France has left Saudi Arabia after a brief, last-minute meeting with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, amid increasing international concern about escalating regional tensions over Saudi policies in Lebanon and Yemen. | |
| During his surprise two-hour visit on Thursday, Mr. Macron “reiterated the importance France attaches to Lebanon’s stability, security, sovereignty and integrity,” and he discussed the situation in the country after the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the French president’s office said. | |
| France has longstanding interests in Lebanon, a former colony, and Mr. Macron’s detour to Saudi Arabia came after an invitation from the prince. The French leader traveled to Saudi Arabia after a visit to the United Arab Emirates for the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, where he met with the prince for the first time. | |
| Some analysts have warned that the current diplomatic climate could lead to an economic crisis or even a war, albeit accidentally, as Saudi Arabia takes a series of provocative steps to counter the growing influence of its regional rival, Iran. | |
| At a news conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, before the meeting, Mr. Macron said he did not share Saudi Arabia’s “very harsh opinions” of Iran. | |
| The Saudis have blamed Iran for a missile launched by rebels in Yemen toward Riyadh on Saturday, and that they intercepted. The Saudis said the actions could be considered an act of war by Tehran. | |
| “It is important to speak with everyone,” Mr. Macron said. | |
| While a new war is unlikely, analysts say, miscalculations have started wars before, as in 2006 between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia, which is mired in a military conflict in Yemen, is unlikely to start another, while Israel, which has talked about reducing the new influence of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the region, has said it does not want a war now. | While a new war is unlikely, analysts say, miscalculations have started wars before, as in 2006 between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia, which is mired in a military conflict in Yemen, is unlikely to start another, while Israel, which has talked about reducing the new influence of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the region, has said it does not want a war now. |
| Mr. Macron’s visit came a week after Mr. Hariri unexpectedly flew to Riyadh and then announced his resignation from there on Saturday. Since then, concerns have mounted that Mr. Hariri may, in effect, be a hostage of the Saudi government. | |
| President Michel Aoun of Lebanon told the Saudi chargé d’affaires in Beirut, Walid Bukhari, that the manner of Mr. Hariri’s resignation was “unacceptable,” and a consortium of countries and organizations interested in Lebanon’s stability said they had met on Friday with Mr. Aoun, who called for Mr. Hariri’s return. | President Michel Aoun of Lebanon told the Saudi chargé d’affaires in Beirut, Walid Bukhari, that the manner of Mr. Hariri’s resignation was “unacceptable,” and a consortium of countries and organizations interested in Lebanon’s stability said they had met on Friday with Mr. Aoun, who called for Mr. Hariri’s return. |
| “I.S.G. welcome the call of the president for Prime Minister Hariri to return to Lebanon,” the coalition, known as the International Support Group, said in a statement. “I.S.G. members expressed their continuing concern regarding the situation and prevailing uncertainty in Lebanon.” | “I.S.G. welcome the call of the president for Prime Minister Hariri to return to Lebanon,” the coalition, known as the International Support Group, said in a statement. “I.S.G. members expressed their continuing concern regarding the situation and prevailing uncertainty in Lebanon.” |
| The group also “appealed for Lebanon to continue to be shielded from tensions in the region” and called for “restoring the vital balance of Lebanon’s state institutions, essential to Lebanon’s stability.” | The group also “appealed for Lebanon to continue to be shielded from tensions in the region” and called for “restoring the vital balance of Lebanon’s state institutions, essential to Lebanon’s stability.” |
| Mr. Hariri said in his resignation speech that he was quitting because of what he said was Iran’s disproportionate influence in Lebanon through its ally, Hezbollah, which is part of the unity government he headed. | Mr. Hariri said in his resignation speech that he was quitting because of what he said was Iran’s disproportionate influence in Lebanon through its ally, Hezbollah, which is part of the unity government he headed. |
| The International Support Group includes the United Nations, the governments of Britain, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States, as well as the European Union and the Arab League. | The International Support Group includes the United Nations, the governments of Britain, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States, as well as the European Union and the Arab League. |
| The members of the group are not all on the same side of some issues in the region, so the statement seemed to reflect a high level of concern about tensions. | The members of the group are not all on the same side of some issues in the region, so the statement seemed to reflect a high level of concern about tensions. |
| Mr. Macron and the prince spoke “at length about the importance of preserving the stability of the region, fighting against terrorism, and above all working for peace,” according to an account of the meeting from the French president’s office. | |
| Although Iran was not named in the statement, there was a mention of the war in Yemen. Mr. Macron said that France was extremely concerned about the humanitarian crisis there, and he offered his assistance in trying to find a political resolution to the fighting. | |
| Mr. Hariri, a dual citizen of Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, met the ambassadors of Britain and the European Union and the chargé d’affaires of the American Embassy on Wednesday and Thursday at his Riyadh residence. | Mr. Hariri, a dual citizen of Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, met the ambassadors of Britain and the European Union and the chargé d’affaires of the American Embassy on Wednesday and Thursday at his Riyadh residence. |
| Other Western diplomats, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that those envoys, too, had the impression that Mr. Hariri could not speak freely. Saudi Arabia, which ordered its citizens on Thursday to leave Lebanon, has denied that he is being held against his will. | Other Western diplomats, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that those envoys, too, had the impression that Mr. Hariri could not speak freely. Saudi Arabia, which ordered its citizens on Thursday to leave Lebanon, has denied that he is being held against his will. |