Russian President Vladimir Putin went on a whirlwind tour of the Arab Gulf on Dec. 6, during which he and a high-profile delegation visited both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
His visit to the two oil-rich Arab states—both seen as key U.S. allies in the region—served to belie Western claims of Moscow’s “isolation” on the world stage.
On the eve of the trip, Yury Ushakov, a top aide to Mr. Putin, described the latter’s “lightning tour” of the region as a “potent signal to the international community.”
Mr. Putin’s first stop was in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, where he received a lavish state welcome.
Upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr al-Watan presidential palace, the Russian leader received a 21-gun salute.
Emirati Air Force planes circled the skies over the capital, painting them with the colors of Russia’s national flag.
Mr. Putin was greeted by his Emirati counterpart, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with whom he held several hours of closed-door talks.
He was accompanied by a high-level delegation, which included his ministers of foreign affairs and trade, along with the head of Russia’s central bank.
In a subsequent statement, Mr. Al Nahyan said he and Mr. Putin discussed relations between their two countries 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 development for all,” the Emirati leader said.
According to UAE daily newspaper The National, the two men also stressed the need for “international action to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as well as protecting civilians and ensuring the safe ... delivery of humanitarian aid.”
The two leaders also agreed on the need for a “lasting and comprehensive peace in the region based on a two-state solution,” the media outlet reported.
Mr. Putin and Mr. Al Nahyan also reportedly exchanged views on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which Russia invaded early last year.
In this regard, an Emirati official said Mr. Putin’s visit had allowed for wide-ranging discussion of “a number of regional and international developments.”
In comments to Reuters, the official stressed the UAE’s commitment to “continuous efforts with its international partners in working to reduce escalation and find prospects for a peaceful political solution [in Ukraine].”
Energy, Gaza Top Agenda in Riyadh
From Abu Dhabi, Mr. Putin continued to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other top Saudi officials.Mr. Putin and his accompanying delegation were warmly greeted by the crown prince upon their arrival in the Saudi capital.
During three hours of talks, the two sides discussed the Israel–Gaza conflict, along with bilateral energy cooperation within the framework of OPEC+.
OPEC+ is made up of the 13 members of OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and 10 other oil-producing states, including Russia.
“We talked again about cooperation in the OPEC+ format,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who attended the meeting, said shortly afterward.
“The parties agree that our countries bear a great responsibility for interaction to maintain the international energy market at the proper level.”
Russia and Saudi Arabia represent the world’s two largest oil exporters.
Together, they account for roughly one-fifth of global oil production.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Saudi prince praised recent Saudi–Russian “coordination,” which, he said, had “helped ease tensions in the Middle East.”
“We share many interests and issues that we are working on together for the benefit of Russia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and the world,” the SPA quoted him as saying.
In public statements before his departure, Mr. Putin said a planned trip to Moscow by the crown prince had been called off at the last minute, prompting the Russian leader to visit Riyadh.
“Events forced a correction to those plans, but nothing can prevent the development of our friendly relations,” Mr. Putin said.
“The next meeting should be in Moscow.”
The Saudi prince—who also serves as the country’s prime minister—replied in the affirmative.
In August, the UAE and Saudi Arabia were both invited to join the BRICS group of nations.
In January 2024, both countries—along with Iran, Egypt, Argentina, and Ethiopia—are expected to officially accede to the bloc as full members.
Founded in 2010, BRICS is an intergovernmental organization currently made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
In November, BRICS leaders held a virtual summit at which they called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an international conference aimed at resolving the decades-long Israel–Palestine conflict.
On the morning of Dec. 7, Mr. Putin returned to Moscow, where he held talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
