French and Dutch finance ministers snub Saudi investor conference
The French and Dutch finance ministers have withdrawn from next week's Saudi investor conference following the disappearance and alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Bruno Le Maire pulled out of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh on Wednesday but said his absence would not jeopardise relations between France and Saudi Arabia.
His withdrawal was swiftly followed by that of Dutch finance minister Wopka Hoekstra.
The chief executive of French defence group Thales Patrice Caine has also decided against attending but the president of the firm's space division Jean-Loic Galle will travel to Riyadh.
The UK's international trade secretary Liam Fox is still yet to confirm his diary for next week, when he due to speak at the conference.
Read more: Labour: Liam Fox is 'vacillating' over Saudi business summit
US President Donald Trump said yesterday he was reluctant to abandon ally Saudi Arabia and asked to hear an audio recording Turkish officials claim proves Saudi agents were involved.
Le Maire's withdrawal was one of the first by a senior government official from the West
“No, I will not be going. The allegations are serious,” he told Public Senat TV.
When asked whether the move would put relations with the kingdom at risk he said “absolutely not.”
Diplomatic ties between France and Saudi Arabia have grown in recent years with commercial relations spanning energy, finance and arms.
French President Emmanuel Macron initially said he was “waiting for the truth and complete clarity” after hearing the allegations over the missing journalist.
Read more: Glencore chairman withdraws from dwindling Saudi investor conference
Yesterday, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, added her name to a growing number of leaders to withdraw from the conference.
The chief executive of French bank Societe Generale, Frederic Oudea, also dropped out.
But Softbank, whose $93bn Vision Fund was half-funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, said it was “anxiously monitoring” events and has not pulled out.
The list of speakers and attendees for the Future Investment Initiative event in Riyadh has dwindled significantly in the past few days as more details emerge surrounding the disappearance of Khashoggi.
The US resident and critic of the Saudi government has not been seen since entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.
Turkish officials have since heard a recording of Khashoggi’s alleged murder inside the consulate, reports say. Saudi Arabia has denied involvement.