Macron's Saudi Visit Reflects Western Realpolitik Over Values, Says Der Spiegel Correspondent
Source Summary
Der Spiegel foreign correspondent Susanne Koelbl discussed Emmanuel Macron's decision to welcome Mohammed bin Salman at the Élysée Palace as an example of realpolitik. According to Koelbl, Saudi Arabia's importance for energy, regional security, investment, and Middle Eastern diplomacy made permanent isolation untenable. Macron sought to position France as an independent, balanced power between the Mediterranean and the Gulf.
Why it matters
The visit illustrates how major Western powers prioritize strategic economic and geopolitical interests over human rights concerns in their foreign policy decisions.
