The meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince and minister of defence Mohammed bin Salman at the international economic forum in St Petersburg last week was nothing short of historic.
As columnist Jamal Bnoun noted in the pan-Arab daily Al Hayat, the pair signed a number of bilateral agreements, including one for cooperation on a peaceful nuclear programme in Saudi Arabia.
The writer said: “The agreement between Saudi and Russia certainly opens a new window for joint cooperation, additional privileged relations and common interests. More importantly, it is an opportunity to thwart attempts to undermine security in the region.”
He said this diplomatic move could not have come at a better time for Russia, as it finds itself weighed down heavily by stringent economic sanctions. The Russian economy has been hard hit, especially by low oil prices and a currency collapse. This has prompted it to start talks with Iran over possible oil imports in exchange for wheat and other food products.
Russia realises the importance of having a significant and strong strategic partner in the Middle East, and to achieve this it is prepared to change some of its political stances.
Saudi diplomacy was on the money in terms of timing and choice, Bnoun said, and Prince Mohammed’s visit to Russia had reinstated the balance of power in the region.
“The Saudi kingdom is entitled to build a nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes,” he said, noting that the country had established itself over the past decades as “a most influential Arab and global force”.
The writer added: “The choice of partner was significant. Russia is a great power with substantial international weight. It is one of the most important players in our region.”
The Moscow-Riyadh rapprochement is beneficial for both countries and for the Middle East, Bnoun said, because Iran and Israel could not be allowed to have unbridled influence on the region’s politics.
Russia stands to benefit enormously from the agreements which, in addition to improving its economy, will reinforce the Gulf nations’ trust in it. This would eventually lead to a change in its diplomatic and political positions vis-à-vis the specific issues of Syria, Iran and Yemen.
The Saudi columnist Abdulrahman Al Rashid wrote in the London-based daily Asharq Al Awsat that the most interesting thing about the Deputy Crown Prince's visit to Russia was that it deviated from traditional practice.
It took place at a time when the United States and its European allies are boycotting Russia economically in the wake of the events in Ukraine.
“This time around, contrary to habit, the Saudi government decided to revive its trade relations with Moscow and sign agreements and deals in the vital sectors of gas, military and nuclear technology,” the writer said. “It is indeed a rare occasion when Riyadh sets on a course opposite to Washington’s.”
For the past 20 years the Saudis have supported the western decision to boycott Iran and stand up to it regionally, only to find out that Washington has stabbed them in the back and struck an agreement with the Tehran regime without consulting with them, the writer asserted.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that Saudi Arabia has decided to turn against its positions and alliances, but that it is most probably looking to expand its options.
After all, Al Rashid concluded, Russia remains a great power and it is actively seeking to become a significant player in our region.
* Translation by Racha Makarem
RMakarem@thenational.ae
