In the last hours, posts have spread on social media, including two photos that their publishers claim to show the current meetings of the Saudi Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the UAE President, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, in light of recent developments and the decisions of “OPEC.” Plus” cut production quotas.
But the two photos are old and have nothing to do with recent developments.
The post includes two photos, the first of the Saudi crown prince welcoming Kadyrov, whose units, including the “Kadyrovtsy” militia, are fighting alongside regular Russian forces in Ukraine, and the second of a head of state shaking Kadyrov’s hand.
“To everyone who thinks that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are afraid of a coup once morest the United States…” the post’s participants wrote in their comments.
And they added, “General Ramzan Kadyrov in the Russian army came a few days ago to Dammam to meet bin Salman, and today he is in St. Petersburg to meet bin Zayed.”
The posts garnered a lot of interactions on social media a few hours following they started spreading.
The circulation of these publications comes following US President Joe Biden’s decision to conduct a “re-assessment” of strategic relations with Saudi Arabia due to its decision to reduce oil production, which threatens to raise prices.
The “OPEC Plus” alliance, which includes members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) led by Saudi Arabia and the ten partners led by Russia, decided last week to reduce production quotas.
The decision sparked a wave of discontent among members of the US Congress, especially Democrats.
On Monday, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee threatened to block any future arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Last July, Biden took a step towards rapprochement with Saudi Arabia, following he had previously wanted to make it a “pariah” state on the international scene following the murder of journalist Khashoggi.
Bin Zayed in Russia
As for the UAE President, Mohammed bin Zayed, he visited Russia, on Tuesday, to meet his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, becoming one of the few leaders of countries who have made a similar visit since the invasion of Ukraine.
In light of these developments, two photographs, which their publishers claimed showed the two leaders with Kadyrov, spread.
But the two photos were taken during the past years. A photo of the Saudi crown prince with the Chechen leader was published in November 2016, when the prince received him in Dammam.
As for picture The UAE President with Kadyrov, published on April 8, 2019 during a visit in which he received the Chechen leader to discuss “strengthening friendly relations between the two countries”.
Mohamed bin Zayed receives the Chechen President and discusses with him strengthening relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and a number of issues of common interest. pic.twitter.com/Vrjanm3P7h
— Mohammed bin Zayed (@MohamedBinZayed) April 8, 2019
