Macron in the Middle East

Macron in the Middle East

President Emmanuel Macron of France has been back in the Middle East. This time he was in Saudi Arabia, his first visit to the kingdom since 2017, before heading to the UAE.

The French leader has made something of a name for himself in the region in recent years. He staked significant political capital on cajoling Lebanon’s leaders to pass reforms to solve their dire economic crisis. He hosted a political summit in Baghdad with officials from across the region – including Iran and the Gulf – that sought to build avenues for dialogue rather than conflict. He has visited holy sites in Jerusalem, cultural sites in the Emirates and met illusive musical icon Fairuz in Lebanon. He has cut deals on energy, defence, the environment, and culture.

On this week's Beyond the Headlines, host James Haines-Young looks at Macron in the Middle East: what came out of his recent visits, why he has been so engaged in the region and what that means for French diplomacy.

Episoder(477)

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For weeks, the Israeli military has isolated the north of Gaza, conducting air strikes and ground attacks, including on residential areas and hospitals. In back-to-back attacks on Beit Lahia and the n...

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Can the US draw a firm red line for Israel’s military conduct?

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Beyond October 7: Ep 3 - Two states, too late?

Over the past year, reporters, photographers and even children have documented the atrocities in Gaza through their phones, using social media to show the world the horrors they endured. People all ar...

6 Okt 202432min

Beyond October 7: Ep 2 - 'Gaza is no more'

Beyond October 7: Ep 2 - 'Gaza is no more'

The day after October 7, people in Gaza and all around the world woke up to a darker, more brutal reality as Israel began its military response. Within days, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ...

5 Okt 202444min

Beyond October 7: Ep 1 - 'Do you condemn Hamas?'

Beyond October 7: Ep 1 - 'Do you condemn Hamas?'

Around 6.30 on the morning of October 7, 2023 thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel. About an hour later, in daylight, Hamas’s armed wing and other armed groups broke through ...

4 Okt 202432min

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Thousands in Lebanon were injured and at least 32 people were killed this week in a double attack believed to have been conducted by Israel. On Tuesday, thousands of pagers in the possession of Hezbol...

20 Sep 202415min

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