Saudi Assistant Defense Minister Talal Al-Otaibi met in January 2025 with the Advisor to the French Minister of the Armed Forces for Industrial Affairs and Innovation, Ardian Falcon, in Riyadh.
The meeting between Al-Otaibi and Falcon is said to have focused on the importance of deepening Saudi-French defense cooperation, particularly in key areas such as air defense.
The following note outlines the key elements of this development, including:
- The current status of Saudi-French negotiations on air defense systems
- Factors shaping the pace and direction of the talks
- Insights into a specific air defense platform under discussion with the French side
The note also mentions the strategic defense priorities for the Kingdom.
