Key Takeaways
- The visit follows Putin’s rare departure since the Ukraine war, emphasizing its significance
- The multifaceted agenda covers crucial topics like Oil, Gaza, and Ukraine
- Putin acknowledges UAE’s role, emphasizing robust relations and economic ties
- High-profile Russian delegation highlights OPEC+ collaboration and its impact on global oil production
- The upcoming meeting with MbS in Saudi Arabia adds urgency amid delayed OPEC+ discussions.
President Vladimir Putin embarked on a rare journey to the Middle East, flanked by four Russian fighter jets, marking a significant geopolitical event. The visit, aimed at discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), encompasses crucial topics such as Oil, Gaza, and Ukraine. The escort of Sukhoi-35S fighter jets showcased the strategic significance of this diplomatic mission.
You Can Also Read: How Putin seeks to leverage the Gaza war?
As Putin’s Ilyushin-96 aircraft travelled from Russia to the United Arab Emirates, the Kremlin chief’s presence garnered a warm welcome from President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE’s jets, in a symbolic gesture, trailed the colors of Russia’s flag in a fly-past. Putin, acknowledging the exceptional level of relations, emphasized the UAE’s role as Russia’s primary trading partner in the Arab world.
A Multifaceted Agenda with OPEC+ and Regional Conflicts
The high-profile Russian delegation accompanying Putin includes key officials in oil, economy, foreign affairs, space, and nuclear energy. Putin highlighted the collaborative efforts within OPEC+, a coalition responsible for over 40% of the world’s oil production, indicating the multifaceted nature of the discussions.
In Abu Dhabi, Putin expressed gratitude for the strong bilateral ties and stated, “Our relations, largely due to your position, have reached an unprecedentedly high level.” The agenda spans not only economic matters but also the Israeli-Hamas conflict and the situation in Ukraine, underscoring the breadth of the diplomatic talks.
Diplomatic Mission Highlights:
- Visit marked by the escort of four Sukhoi-35S fighter jets.
- Aimed at discussions with Saudi Arabia’s MbS.
- Encompassing crucial topics: oil, Gaza, and Ukraine.
- UAE jets trailed Russia’s flag colors in a symbolic fly-past.
- High-profile Russian delegation includes key officials in various sectors.
Following the UAE visit, Putin is scheduled to meet MbS in Saudi Arabia, marking their first face-to-face encounter since October 2019. The timing, amid a delayed OPEC+ meeting, adds an element of urgency to the trip. While details about Putin’s specific agenda on oil and geopolitics remain undisclosed, the visit assumes heightened significance given the evolving global dynamics.
Notably, Putin’s journey to the Middle East follows his previous visit in mid-2022, where he met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran. As Putin rarely leaves Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war, the diplomatic engagements signify a pivotal moment in shaping regional and global relationships.
The climax of this diplomatic narrative awaits in Putin’s subsequent meeting with Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow on Thursday, creating a strategic triad of discussions that could influence the trajectory of international relations.
What Putin said?
President Vladimir Putin emphasized the unparalleled nature of ties with Saudi Arabia as he commenced a hastily arranged meeting in Riyadh with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday.
Opening the discussions, Putin said that initial plans had anticipated Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Moscow, but unforeseen changes altered the arrangements. Putin proposed the next meeting be hosted in Moscow, underlining the enduring and robust relations the two nations share across political, economic, and humanitarian domains.
Asserting, “Nothing can prevent the development of our friendly relations,” Putin set a tone of unwavering commitment to the partnership. The talks, expected to be comprehensive, include discussions on the Gaza conflict and the collaborative efforts within the OPEC+ group of oil producers.
In his remarks, Putin underscored the critical importance of exchanging information and assessments on the regional landscape, reflecting the shared concerns and interests that bind Russia and Saudi Arabia.
From Oil Markets to Global Alliances, Unveiling the Agenda
The Kremlin has affirmed that, in addition to oil, President Putin and Crown Prince MbS will engage in discussions regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, the situations in Syria and Yemen, and broader concerns related to Gulf stability. An aide mentioned that Ukraine will also be on the agenda.
Putin and MbS, wielding control over one-fifth of daily oil production, share a longstanding relationship, despite occasional Western ostracism. Notably, at a G20 summit in 2018, just two months post the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the two leaders displayed camaraderie, high-fiving and shaking hands with smiles.
Discussion Topic:
- Economic matters,
- Israeli-Hamas conflict,
- Ukraine Issue
- Syria, Yemen, and Gulf stability
- Global oil production
MbS, aged 38, has aimed to position Saudi Arabia as a regional power with diminished dependence on the United States, its major weapons supplier and the world’s leading oil producer. Putin, amidst Russia’s involvement in Ukraine, perceives a struggle against the West, actively seeking alliances in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia amid Western attempts at isolation.
Both leaders, Putin at 71 and MbS, share the imperative of sustaining high oil prices vital for their economies. The pivotal question revolves around the distribution of this burden to uphold oil prices and the mechanisms to verify such arrangements. As their meeting unfolds, the intricate dynamics of this shared interest may well determine the future trajectory of their nations and global oil markets.
Saudi Demands Assurance from Moscow
OPEC+ faced delays in its meeting last month due to disagreements over production levels. Saudi’s energy minister expressed the coalition’s desire for additional assurances from Moscow regarding its commitment to reducing fuel exports.
OPEC+ Dynamics and Geopolitical Shifts:
- OPEC+ faces delays over disagreements; Saudi seeks assurances from Moscow.
- Saudi-Russian tensions within OPEC+ reconciled in 2020, leading to unprecedented cuts.
- Geopolitical shifts: Putin frames Israel-Hamas conflict as a consequence of perceived U.S. policy failures.
Historically, Saudi-Russian relations within OPEC+ have encountered tensions, notably in March 2020 when a deal on production cuts nearly collapsed amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the initial strain, the two nations swiftly reconciled, leading to OPEC+ agreeing to unprecedented cuts, amounting to almost 10% of global demand.
The geopolitical landscape has shifted with Putin framing the Israel-Hamas conflict since October as a consequence of perceived failures in U.S. Middle East policy. This narrative has driven Russia to strengthen ties with Arab allies, Iran, and the Palestinian group.
