Saudi defence minister in Paris to discuss Syria, Iraq, Lebanon
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud began a three-day official visit to France on Monday. He is expected to hold talks with French leaders on issues related to security in the Middle East.
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President François Hollande was to meet Salman bin Abdul Aziz, who is also the deputy prime minister and defence minister of Saudi Arabia, over an official dinner at the Elysée presidential palace today.
The two are likely to discuss a 2.3-billion-euro sale of French military equipment and arms for Lebanon's army aimed at neutralising the threat posed by jihadists on its border with Syria.
Saudi Arabia has agreed to finance this package.
On Wednesday the prince is due to meet French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
They are expected to talk about the situation in Iraq and Syria, where the Islamic State jihadi group has seized swathes of territory and is terrorising Christians and other minorities.
On Saturday Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah h warned that the West will be the next target of the jihadis unless rapid action is taken.
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