Russia–Saudi Arabia relations

KiloGolf wrote:Trump already sole them the THAAD for billions, I don't the US cares for this visit.

Approved, not sold. The Saudi's have still to ink the deal and can backtrack completely (although unlikely) or modify it (likely).

So what of this Russian foreign policy of offering to sell SHORAD to Saudi, to protect oil from Yemen attack? I said before, that Russia wins, because it offers a better deal than the Yanks. This means it plays by different rules.

The worst trap to fall into, after the diminishment of socialist ideology, is to pay into the ideology of national chauvinism. This has the effect of driving policy by immediate economic aims. It destroys the external environment, where long term national interests are truly met. It creates contradictions in policy. It is like a man with two friends who are themselves at war. And then takes sides with one against another. Such a man will not gain two friends, but will gain two enemies.

The sale of defensive equipment seems innocent enough. But this time this defensive capability will directly and immediately increase offensive capability. Since Saudi are engaged in offensive war. So what is the solution? Should Russia not sell defensive equipment? And just leave the Yanks to further allow the prolongation of  this offensive war and polarisation of society, with aim of establishing their monopoly?

This does not sound to be good policy either. Therefore in order not to fall into contradictions and alienate our friends and potential friends alike, foreign policy should not be allowed to be dictated by immediate economic gain or advantage. But should have a strong political element. One where long term national interests are secured by offering the world a better deal.

In my view, Russia should offer SHORAD and other equipment to Saudi, and guarantee for them freedom from attack by Yemen also, if the Saudi agree to stop bombing campaign in Yemen. This is a better offer than the yank endless war for the Arabs and everyone else. The way to gain, is not by helping two friends fight. But to help them not to.

Putin arrives in Riyadh to discuss oil prices, situation in Syria

According to the Kremlin aide, Russian and Saudi leaders would discuss expanding military-technical and cultural-humanitarian cooperation, as well in the spheres of energy, agriculture and industry

RIYADH, October 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Riyadh on Monday on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, where he will hold talks with King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov informed reporters that they plan to discuss coordination of actions to stabilize oil prices, as well as the situation in Syria, the Persian Gulf region and Palestine-Israel regulation.

"They will discuss further coordination of joint actions with the aim to stabilize the world hydrocarbon market," Ushakov said. He reminded that earlier, "with an active role of Russia and Saudi Arabia, it was possible to approve the prolongation of the OPEC+ agreement to reduce volume of oil production."
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The Kremlin aide added that Russian and Saudi leaders would discuss expanding multilateral cooperation in various areas, namely, in the spheres of energy, agriculture, industry, as well as in the military-technical and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

Ushakov noted that the leaders will "exchange opinions on the current international issues, focusing on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa." "They will discuss the situation in Syria, in the Persian Gulf, in Yemen, and Palestine-Israel regulation," he added.

Putin will also take part in the first session of the Russian-Saudi Economic Council on October 14, Ushakov informed earlier. "The program of the visit includes participation of the Russian president in the first session of this economic council, which will take place right after the talks with the king," the Kremlin aide said, adding that Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud plans to take part in the session as well. The council will include head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriyev and Saudi Minister of National Guard Abdullah Bin Bandar. The council also involves business representatives from both countries, "about 20 representatives from each side," the Kremlin official added.

https://tass.com/politics/1083000

GarryB wrote:I am sure the Russians will talk with the Saudis, but at the end of the day the spread of Shia muslims like Iran has is much preferable to the spread of Sunni muslims as the Saudis encourage.

Iran has less money than the Saudis but the Iranians are also rather more benign and easier to live with.

My thoughts are that as in the past both Iran and Saudi Arabia will talk about spending a lot of money on Russian products (mostly military), but at the end of the day the Iranians will buy  a few bits and pieces and locally produce certain things, and Saudi Arabia will change its mind and not buy anything.

I think the spread of Shia is going to happen, with all the Isis terrorists being Sunni and having killed hundred of thousands of Muslim's, I think sunnism will go down.

ahmedfire wrote:Saudi Arabia Negotiating S-400, Su-35 Buy


https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29050/Saudi_Arabia_Negotiating_S_400__Su_35_Buy#.YDlSsNUzbIV

They afraid of the leftist Biden controled by the deap state.

They will quickly switch to Russia (and China) and for sure make peace with Iran.

The day after the US gives Saudi grief for Kashoggshi.

Russia to sign military cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210224-russia-to-sign-military-cooperation-agreement-with-saudi-arabia/

The Russian government on Tuesday called on its foreign and defense ministries to conduct negotiations with Saudi Arabia to conclude a new military cooperation agreement between the two countries.

According to Russia Today (RT), the agreement would include an: "Expansion of views and data on matters of mutual interest in the military field of anti-terrorism, fight against piracy, troop training, military education, culture and sports, military medicine, military history and relief operations at sea."

The agreement is slated to be implemented through several mutual visits by official delegations and experts, and holding joint training and drills.

ahmedfire wrote:Would be better for Saudis to cut such stupid link with US ,just to be a normal relations like between any two countries .

They can think out of the box and move a lone with Iran and make peace and stop the US abusive relationship .

Not going to happen.

Iran would take a big part of their oil market. US/EU making peace with Iran means they would start seeing Saudi dictatorship the same way they see Iran today.

Saudi have no reason to push for better relations between Iran and US. Best way to do this is buy from US lot of weapons.

ahmedfire wrote:

They are Shia and we are Sunni and we treat them worse than we treat non believers... we fund radicals around the world and that is not going to stop either.

Both sides are using the same language but now it's more than a Sunni and Shia ,it a game of influence , US is raising such conflicts for their own benefits .

Both sides can maneuver on US ,Saudis should talk direct with Iran and make peace with them and Iran should stop using her groups in some Arab countries for her interests .

But the Saudi's should still have it's groups waging terror in the Middle East? When ISIS/ISIL started attacking Iraq back in 2014, The ISIS/ISIL vermin showed very little interest in capturing holy sites like Mecca or Saudi's vast hydrocarbon resources, despite sharing a massive land border with Iraq...which was the massive dead give who financed them.

I remember a lot of investments were promised into Russia when the Saudi King visited Moscow

Well so far haven't heard anything more about them. Nor any of the floats about possible arms deals over the last 15 years.

They're flakes simple as that, Russia is wasting its time

Saudi Crown Prince Shelved London Visit, Prior to Hosting Putin - Reports, 12.08.2023.

Riyadh froze plans for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the UK, given the scheduling proximity to President Putin's official trip to Saudi Arabia, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing London officials.

According to the publication, British and Saudi officials spent months negotiating the visit, with London settling on December 3 as a feasible date. However, last week, the preliminary plan was pushed further down the road due to Vladimir Putin’s state visit.

“Saudi Arabia shelved plans for Mohammed bin Salman to visit London in the past few days, according to UK officials, shortly before the crown prince hosted Vladimir Putin in Riyadh,” the article reads.

Conservative MPs then said that the rescheduling bin Salman’s trip, nearly concurrent with Putin’s visit to Riyadh, called into question the strength of the British-Saudi ties.

In turn, Saudi officials stated that “scheduling issues had long complicated the Saudi royal’s plans to visit the UK this year and dismissed any connection between the delay and his hosting Putin in Riyadh”.

In a conversation with the newspaper, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former Tory leader (UK’s Conservative Party), called the situation a "snub".

In response to this assessment, Prince Khalid bin Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to London, commented that “anyone familiar with the UK-Saudi relationship will know that the suggestion of a snub is nonsense”.

Robert Courts, a senior Tory MP, maintained that the delay was of concern since “it suggests a UK diplomatic failure in the face of a co-ordinated diplomatic offensive by Putin”.

The UK should urgently review the resources and strategy behind its foreign and defense policy to prevent the slide of states towards our strategic competitors,” he maintained.

The so-called shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that this issue currently under discussion is a sign that “Britain’s influence is tumbling on the global stage” under Rishi Sunak’s premiership.

“It is not for the UK to comment on the diplomatic engagements of other countries,” the UK Foreign Office
responded.

On December 6, President Vladimir Putin embarked on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Following the high-profile meeting between the Russian head of state and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the two made a joint statement where the parties agreed to boost bilateral cooperation.

The Russian leader thanked the Saudi Prince for the invitation and suggested an official follow-up visit, hosted in Moscow.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231208/saudi-crown-prince-shelved-london-visit-prior-to-hosting-putin---reports-1115476795.html

What is pretty amazing is the composition of the delegation that Russia sent to Saudi Arabia. You can find pretty much all the heavy hitters in the Russian government and public enterprises in there. You got Putin (President), Lavrov (Foreign Minister), Denis Manturov (Minister of Trade and Industry), Alexander Novak (Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Energy), Elvira Nabiullina (President of the Bank of Russia), Alexey Likhachev (Director of Rosatom), etc. Razman Kadyrov was also there. I suspect he was the facilitator.

You can tell that when Saudi Arabia joins BRICS there is going to be a huge amount of joint Russia-Saudi Arabia projects and initiatives.

They probably negotiated nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia for electricity generation, bank transactions, common trade currency, oil trade, etc.