MOSCOW, Oct 14, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will
visit Saudi Arabia on Monday, where he is set to seal oil agreements as well
as use his influence to defuse rising tensions in the Gulf.
The meeting with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman comes
following attacks on Saudi oil installations that Riyadh and the US have
blamed on Iran, an ally of Moscow.
Oil will be “the main topic of discussion” between the leaders, Russian
political analyst Fydor Lukyanov said, as a deal between the 24 members of
the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is due to expire
next spring.
Russia is not a member of OPEC, headed by Saudi Arabia, but it has worked
closely with the group to limit supply and push up prices after a 2014 slump
that badly hit the Russian economy.
Moscow and Riyadh — a traditional ally of Washington — have made a
striking rapprochement in recent years, marked in particular by King Salman’s
first visit to Russia in October 2017.
A year later, when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was under fire after
the assassination of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, Vladimir Putin
went out of his way to shake his hand at a G20 summit, to much comment.
In an interview with Arabic-language television channels ahead of his
visit, Putin praised his good relations with the King and Crown Prince.
“We will absolutely work with Saudi Arabia and our other partners and
friends in the Arab world… to reduce to zero any attempt to destabilise the
oil market,” he said in the interview broadcast Sunday.
– ‘Role of peacemaker’ –
Analyst Lukyanov said that Moscow — with its older ties to Iran as new
links with Saudi — could “play the role of peacemaker” as tensions between
Tehran and Riyadh continue to rise.
These tensions spiked last month after the attacks on Saudi oil facilities
that initially halved the kingdom’s crude output and set oil markets alight.
Yemen’s Huthi rebels claimed responsibility, but US officials blamed Iran
and said the rebels did not have the range or sophistication to target the
facilities.
Tehran has denied involvement and warned of “total war” in the event of
any attack on its territory.
Russia attempted to keep a foot in both camps — proposing missiles to
Riyadh to defend itself, while at the same time warning against “hasty
conclusions” regarding Iranian involvement.
Last week an Iranian tanker was hit by suspected missile strikes off the
coast of Saudi Arabia, sparking fresh conflict fears.
“As far as Russia is concerned, we will do everything possible to create
the necessary conditions for a positive dynamic” aimed at easing tensions,
Putin said in the interview broadcast Sunday.
– Syria –
Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Syria conflict would also feature in
the leaders’ talks on Monday.
Russia and Iran are allied with the regime of Bashar al-Assad, while the
Saudis support the opposition.
But “it is important for Russia that an Arab country participates in the
political settlement in Syria,” said Lukyanov.
So far “only three non-Arab countries” — Turkey, Russia and Iran — are
hosting talks, he said. In terms of business, the visit is expected to result
in around 30 agreements and contracts, according to Ushakov.
Around a dozen of these — in the advanced technology sectors, energy and
infrastructure — will be signed by the Russian Sovereign Fund and are worth
around $2 billion.
In October 2017, Russia and Saudi Arabia also signed a memorandum of
understanding paving the way for Riyadh’s purchase of Moscow’s powerful S-400
anti-aircraft missile systems.
The sale never materialised, however, as Saudi Arabia eventually opted to
purchase a US system.
After Saudi Arabia, Vladimir Putin will travel to the United Arab Emirates
on Tuesday to meet the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al-
Nahyan.