IRIA News

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Riyadh and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi in a one-day lightning tour to the Gulf region aimed at strengthening partnerships. The visit defied U.S. and European efforts to isolate Putin on the global stage.

These were his first trips to the Middle Eastern region since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Escorted by four Su-35 fighter jets, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plane first landed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 6, 2023, and a few hours later in Saudi Arabia. After meeting his two counterparts in the Gulf region, Putin soon headed back to Moscow where he is expected to meet Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Kremlin on December 7.

Putin rarely leaves Russia since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have not ratified the ICC statute and so are not obliged to arrest the Russian president.

Putin meets Saudi Crown Prince in Riyadh

In the Saudi capital of Riyadh, Putin and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged a strong handshake and smiles ahead of their meeting. The talks focused on energy, trade, and the Israel-Hamas war.

“We have stable and very good relations in terms of political interaction, economics, and in the humanitarian sector,” Putin said in remarks at the start of the two leaders’ meeting. “It is very important for us to exchange information and assessments about what is happening in the region.” Putin added that Russia-Saudi relations have “reached a level they never saw before.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on a rare foreign trip to the Gulf region to strengthen partnerships. Putin and MBS discussed OPEC+ cooperation and the Middle East situationpic.twitter.com/PwD8AF5mat

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) December 7, 2023

Saudi crown prince, who is known as MBS, praised joint coordination between the two countries that helped “alleviate tensions in the Middle East” and will help “bolster the security of the Middle East,” Saudi state news agency SPA said. “We share many interests and collaborate on numerous files for the benefit of both Russia and the Kingdom, as well as the Middle East and the world at large,” the Saudi Crown Prince said.

The two sides underscored the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector, agriculture, trade, investment, and other sectors, over the past seven years.

The two leaders also discussed OPEC+ cooperation on oil markets and the Middle East situation. The meeting comes after oil prices fell despite a pledge by OPEC+, which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, to further cut output. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying “The parties agree that our countries bear a great responsibility for interaction in order to maintain the international energy market at the proper level, in a stable, predictable state.” Saudi Arabia and Russia are the world’s two largest oil exporters, together controlling a fifth of the oil pumped each day.

#PICTURES: #Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Russian President Putin in #Riyadh. pic.twitter.com/Vll2v5dIaT

— Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) December 6, 2023

Key Points from Saudi Arabia-Russia joint statement

These are the highlight from the joint statement issued after the meeting:

• Saudi and Russian leaders agreed on the significance of expanding collaboration in various fields, including oil and gas, geoscience, environment, water, agriculture, technology, communications, judiciary, tourism, sports, education, media, and health.
• The leaders commended the 46% increase in bilateral trade volume in 2022. They also affirmed bolstering economic collaboration by diversifying trade ties and exploring new trade and investment opportunities with a focus on joint investments.
• In the energy sector, the two sides commended close cooperation and the successful efforts of OPEC+ in stabilizing global oil markets. They agreed to sustain this collaboration and urged all participating countries to adhere to the OPEC+ agreement for the benefit of producers and consumers.
• In defense and security, the leaders agreed to enhance cooperation, combat crimes in all forms, and address terrorism and extremism. They agreed to strengthen international cooperation to combat cross-border corruption crimes.
• Recognizing the importance of addressing climate change, the Russian side welcomed Saudi Arabia’s launch of the “Saudi Green Initiative” and the “Middle East Green Initiative”. Both nations stressed the necessity of adhering to international climate agreements, focusing on emissions rather than sources.
• On international affairs, the two sides pledged to continue efforts to maintain international peace and security. They expressed concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, stressed the need to halt military operations in the Palestinian territories, and the need to protect civilians in accordance with international law. The leaders also addressed developments in Ukraine, Yemen, Iran, Syria, and Sudan, highlighting their support for diplomatic solutions, humanitarian efforts, and regional stability.

Presidents of Russia and UAE meet in Abu Dhabi

In Abu Dhabi, the UAE president hosted a welcoming ceremony at the Qasr Al Watan Palace for the Russian president.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Putin discussed multifaceted ties and explored prospects to enhance relations within the context of the bilateral strategic partnership. The dialogue also covered regional and international issues with a focus on developments in Palestine. Putin commended the UAE’s role on the global stage, particularly through its membership in the UN Security Council.

Gaza crisis: The two leaders stressed the “need for international action to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, protect civilians, and ensure the safe, unimpeded, and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid”. The presidents of UAE and Russia underscored the importance of working towards a clear horizon for a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region based on the two-state solution.

Ukraine war: The recent developments in Ukraine also came under discussion. Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan said that the “UAE is committed to resolving conflicts worldwide through diplomacy and dialogue”, adding that this commitment is in line with the UAE’s established policy of promoting peace, cooperation, and stability regionally and globally.

Economy and Trade: During the talks, the UAE president highlighted that “UAE is Russia’s biggest trade partner in the Middle East and the Gulf Region”. The Gulf state is also a major investor in the Russian economy with a notable 103% increase in non-oil sector investments last year. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed eagerness to continue collaboration, prioritizing energy, infrastructure, and high technologies.

Today in Abu Dhabi I discussed with President Vladimir Putin the ties between our two nations, and the importance of strengthening dialogue and cooperation to ensure stability and progress. The UAE will continue to support efforts aimed at enabling global growth, prosperity and… pic.twitter.com/u7wxzvVbjv

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) December 6, 2023

UAE’s president also mentioned joint efforts within international frameworks, including BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where the UAE obtained dialogue partner status in May 2023. He also underlined ongoing work to enhance strategic dialogue between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council.