French Defense Minister Discusses Mali in Saudi Arabia
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday discussed with the Saudi crown prince his country's intervention in Mali and military cooperation between Paris and Riyadh, a French diplomat told Agence France Presse.
"The meeting focused on the intervention in Mali" and both men also "discussed (the situation in) Syria, Iran and Yemen," the diplomat said, adding the visit was planned before French intervention in Mali that began this month.
The minister handed Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz a letter from French President Francois Hollande addressed to Saudi King Abdullah, the official SPA news agency said.
"They talked about arms contracts and military cooperation, but did not sign any agreements," the diplomat said.
The French minister also met deputy defense minister, Prince Khaled bin Sultan, as well as the National Guard chief, Prince Mitaab, who is Abdullah's son, the SPA said.
France is a major supplier of arms to Saudi Arabia and hopes to win a contract worth a billion euros to modernize the oil-rich kingdom's navy.
Source: Agence France Presse
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