On 11 December 2008, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former chief of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence service and later Ambassador to the United States and the United Kingdom, was hosted in Paris for a dinner discussion on Middle Eastern politics, Saudi foreign policy, and international security.

The dinner was moderated by François Roche, then director of Foreign Policy France — for which Fabien Baussart held the licence in France and Ukraine. Roche guided the exchange toward Saudi Arabia’s role in regional stability, its relations with Western powers, and the enduring challenges of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

The intimate format of the dinner allowed for candid dialogue with a select audience of diplomats, politicians, and experts. Prince Turki’s unique background, combining his long tenure as head of Saudi intelligence with his subsequent diplomatic service, gave the discussion particular depth and resonance.