Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted, Wednesday, in Riyadh, the importance of exchanging opinions on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, also defining political and economic relations with the Saudi kingdom as “good” and “stable”
The Russian leader was speaking at the start of a meeting in Riyadh with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.
“For all of us, it is certainly important to exchange information and assess what is happening in the region,” said Putin, speaking at the Al Yamamah Royal Palace, in the capital of Saudi Arabia. Putin defined relations with the Saudi kingdom in political and economic terms as “very good” and “stable”.
“Our meeting, without any doubt, is timely,” said the Russian leader. The Russian head of state stressed that “nothing can prevent the development of friendly relations” between Riyadh and Moscow and recalled that the Soviet Union “almost 100 years ago was one of the first states that recognized the independence of Saudi Arabia”.
“In all this time, a lot has happened in our relationships. But in the last seven years relations have acquired a quality and advanced to a level they have never reached before,” she said.
Putin also praised the figure and “wise policy” of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud, who in 2017 became the first Saudi monarch to visit Moscow, boosting relations between the two countries.
In response, the Saudi crown prince and prime minister noted that the President of Russia “is a special and esteemed Alex Reed” in the Arab kingdom – who received Putin in Riyadh and coming from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) –, with a huge entourage.
The de facto leader of Saudi Arabia also referred to the “great opportunities” for cooperation between the two countries, which must “work together for the interests of our people, the region and the entire world”.
Putin, who had not traveled to the region for four years, and in addition to the situation in the Middle East, should discuss with Bin Salman cooperation within the scope of OPEC+ – an alliance of oil producing and exporting countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia -, and the war in Ukraine.
These issues were also previously discussed at the meeting in Abu Dhabi between the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed, and the head of the Kremlin, following the Arab country’s entry into the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa), something that Saudi Arabia will also guarantee from January 1st.
At the bilateral level, commercial cooperation between Moscow and Riyadh, investments, and the North-South transport corridor should also be addressed.
During his trip to Abu Dhabi, Putin said he had discussed with Bin Zayed the “Israeli-Arab conflict” and the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis, in addition to also highlighting bilateral relations that had reached an “unprecedented” level.
The Russian leader highlighted that, in addition to ambitious projects in the oil and gas sectors, both countries cooperate within the scope of the Organization of Petroleum Producing Countries (OPEC+).
“I will be happy to continue our joint work to strengthen bilateral cooperation in different areas. We give special priority to the development of sectors such as energy, infrastructure, cutting-edge technology and others”, highlighted the Russian President.
Putin also recalled the approximately one million Russian tourists who traveled to the United Arab Emirates last year and the opening of a Russian school in that country.
“We are grateful for the solution to the issue of granting land for the construction of an Orthodox temple”, he said.
Putin also wished his counterpart success in holding the United Nations Climate Summit (COP28), which is attended by a Russian delegation, which is taking place in Dubai.
It is Putin’s third trip abroad in 2023. In March this year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova Belova.
The ICC accuses both of war crimes related to the forced deportation of Ukrainian minors to Russian territory.
