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  "authors": [
    "Joseph Bahout"
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    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
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  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
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Source: Getty

In The Media

French Relations with Saudi Arabia

France and Saudi Arabia have agreements on a number of issues, such as Iran’s nuclear program, but France has several concerns about the way Saudi Arabia is positioning itself toward the Arab Spring.

Link Copied
By Joseph Bahout
Published on Jan 26, 2015

Source: Radio France International

Speaking on Radio France International, Carnegie’s Joseph Bahout explained that historically, France’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has been strong on economic grounds. France and Saudi Arabia have agreements on a number of issues, such as Iran’s nuclear program and the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power, Bahout said. However, France has several concerns about the way Saudi Arabia is positioning itself toward the Arab Spring in general, he argued, and with Islamist movements in particular.

This interview originally aired on Radio France International.

Joseph Bahout
Former Nonresident Fellow, Middle East Program
Joseph Bahout
Political ReformForeign PolicyMiddle EastSaudi ArabiaWestern EuropeFranceGulf

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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