Trump urged by France to deliver political message on two-state solution during Gulf tour

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot says US President should not focus solely on economic ties on trip to region

Jean-Noel Barrot, France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, suggests US President Donald Trump's visit to Arabian Gulf states beginning on May 13 should involve messages on the two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. AFPShow less

Live updates: Trump to visit Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar

US President Donald Trump has been urged by France to deliver a political message on a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE.

French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot suggested the trip, which begins on May 13, should be about more than economic ties.

“I believe President Trump's primary objective during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and Qatar is to strengthen economic relations with the Gulf region,” he said, speaking to radio France Inter.

“We hope and urge both the United States and our partners in the Gulf to use this opportunity to deliver political messages.”

Pointing at Mr Trump's support, under his previous mandate, for the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic ties with Israel and a number of Arab states including the UAE, Mr Barrot said he hoped that he would back an upcoming Saudi-French conference in New York on a two-state solution in June.

France may recognise Palestinian statehood during the conference, which would signal an important shift in French policy. Eleven EU member states out of 27 recognise Palestine.

“I'm not saying that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could be resolved in the coming days thanks to President Trump's visit, but I think that what we want and what we are pushing for are political statements that allow us to move in the same direction,” Mr Barrot said.

France and other western countries have harshly criticised Israel's total blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since March 2. Speaking in front of the National Assembly last week, Mr Barrot said Gaza was on the “verge of famine”.

A number of influential French Jewish voices have echoed his preoccupation over the situation in Gaza. “No pain is eased and no death is avenged by starving innocent people or condemning children,” wrote rabbi Delphine Horvilleur in a weekend op-ed for Tenoua. Israel's war on Gaza has killed 52,829 people since the October 7, 2023, attacks in which about 1,200 died.

Asked what France can do at European level to pressure Israel into a ceasefire, Mr Barrot described as “legitimate” a recent Dutch initiative requesting that the European Commission review of Article 2 – which concerns human rights – of the EU-Israel association agreement.

“This is a legitimate request, which I invite the European Commission to investigate,” Mr Barrot said. Asked if he was favourable to such a review, he answered: “Let us see the analysis that the European Commission will make of Israel's compliance, or not, with Article 2 of this agreement.”

The Dutch letter has received the support of Finland, Sweden and Portugal. A request for review had been filed by Spain and Portugal in February 2024, but it yielded no result.