Citing a joint statement released following Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Paris, SPA also said the leaders also discussed the importance of stabilizing the global energy market and maintaining a steady food supply of wheat and grains globally.

The meeting also stressed the need for a continuous evaluation of common threats that face both Saudi Arabia and France and for maintaining security and stability in the Middle East.

The Saudi Crown Prince and Macron reportedly agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation in defense while simultaneously combating terrorism, crime, and its financing by sharing experiences and conducting training exercises.

Security and stability in Lebanon were other areas of discussion. Both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Macron agreed upon the importance of implementing comprehensive political and economic reforms to maintain Lebanon's sovereignty, and “expressed satisfaction” with the work being undertaken by the Saudi-French fund for humanitarian and relief work in the Middle East nation, according to the joint statement.

The safety of the Syrian people and the preservation of the territory were a part of the talks, according to the SPA report. It added that the two leaders also explored the international efforts in place to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and urged its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

France’s Macron also reportedly commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts and support for the truce in Yemen. The Kingdom, meanwhile, appreciated France’s support behind UN efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis.

The leaders also reviewed the historical and strategic relations between the two countries and discussed ways to further develop them. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues, SPA reported.

In a separate statement issued by the French presidency, Macron and the Crown Prince underlined the need to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and “intensify their cooperation to ease the effects in Europe, the Middle East, and the wider world.”

The statement made no explicit reference to oil or gas, but said Macron had “underlined the importance of continuing the ongoing coordination with Saudi Arabia with regards to the diversification of energy supplies for European countries.”

With Russian oil and gas supplies either unavailable to EU nations due to sanctions or being withheld by Moscow, European countries are desperately seeking alternative sources of fossil fuels, AFP reported.

Saudi Arabia is one of few countries worldwide with the capacity to increase its output.