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MBS, Mohammed Ben Salman crown prince of Saudi Arabia (in December 2017). Reuters

This Thursday, a statement from the Quai d'Orsay announces that 18 Saudis are now prohibited from accessing the French territory, as well as the entire Schengen area. If the name of Mohammed bin Salman returns to the media front of this sordid Khashoggi affair, the Wahhabi kingdom still benefits from Washington's " unwavering " support. MBS will be present at the Argentinean G20 at the end of the month.

" These are provisional measures, likely to be reviewed or extended depending on the progress of ongoing investigations, " said the statement of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After the United States announced last week financial sanctions against 17 Saudi officials involved in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and Germany, which announced on Monday a ban on 18 Saudi nationals involved in the murder of the journalist, it is the turn of France to also take sanctions. We just do not know if it's about the same people. But in all likelihood it would be the fifteen members of the Saudi team that went to the Istanbul consulate, as well as three people suspected of orchestrating the murder of the journalist , on October 2 in the premises of the Saudi representation.

By contrast, unlike Germany, France has not imposed an embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia . " France demands that all the light be shed on the manner in which such an act may have been committed. Ella expects from the Saudi authorities a transparent, detailed and exhaustive response, "the ministry said.

Just like the United States, which has adopted sanctions against 17 Saudi nationals, France seems to want to separate the trade component of its relationship with Saudi Arabia from that relating to diplomatic relations. A position that is not so surprising since Saudi Arabia is one of the main customers of France in terms of armament.

MBS to Argentine G20

For several American media, the CIA has no doubt about the responsibility of Mohammed bin Salman in the murder of the journalist who had exiled to the United States. It has, according to a Turkish journalist from the daily Hurriyet , a compromising recording in which the Saudi Crown Prince gives the order to " silence " the journalist Jamal Khashoggi. According to the CIA's findings , reported late last week by the Washington Post , Mohamed bin Salman ordered the assassination of Khashoggi.

Donald Trump however assured Tuesday that the US foreign intelligence agency had " nothing absolutely certain, " and reaffirmed its support for the leaders of the kingdom. " It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event - maybe, maybe not! ", he said. The 70-year alliance between Saudi Arabia and Washington is in any case " unshakeable, " assured Donald Trump on November 20.

It is with this support from the White House host that MBS will travel abroad for the first time since the break-up. He is expected at the G20 to be held in Argentina from November 30 to December 1. On this occasion, he could meet Turkish President Erdogan, who personally fired several accusatory bursts against Saudi Arabia ... without ever naming the strongman of Riyadh.