France hopes for more than political goodwill from Saudi Arabia

French President François Hollande was back in Saudi Arabia on 29 December, for an official visit which underlined the current warmth between Riyadh and Paris. It was Hollande’s second visit to the kingdom since taking office; the first, in November 2012, was seen as a sign of his intent to redress the Qatarisation seen under his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy (GSN 935/8). A year later, the relationship has indeed strengthened, in no small part because Saudi Arabia sees France as an ally on Syria, a conflict in which Paris, too, has pushed for western intervention. This time, King Abdullah Bin Abdelaziz received Hollande – whom one French paper described as Riyadh’s favourite falcon – in his farm at Rawdat Khuraim, 60km north-east of the capital, a choice of venue seen as showing favour towards the French leader.