... eagerness can hardly be called an attempt to find balance between Russia and the United States, since Riyadh’s steps are too situational and opportunistic. And Russia is in no position to
replace
the U.S. as the key extra-regional partner for Saudi Arabia, or anything close.
Occasional suggestions on the subject in the Russian media do not mean that the Kremlin is entertaining any such illusions, despite clear interest in the dream becoming reality. Despite its numerous problems, Riyadh will have a significant impact on the Syria settlement. One should not expect full-fledged ...
... diplomatic attention that it has attracted, but also in terms of the staggering variety of foreign troops officially and unofficially operating on Syrian territory. This comes at a time when the long-term regional role of key players such as the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, remains up in the air. This report aims to remedy this communication lacuna by furnishing readers with Russian and GCC perspectives on the issue, delivered by researchers specializing in Gulf strategic issues.
Introduction
The ...
... made clear that the Kingdom would grant lucrative arms contracts to Russia (most notably the Russian mobile surface-to-air missile system S-400) on the condition that it curbs military cooperation with Iran. The “S-400 diplomacy” between Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran then proved to be a bargaining tool in the hands of Riyadh. More recently, in 2013 and 2014, Prince Bandar (who was then the Saudi intelligence chief) paid several visits to Vladimir Putin and reiterated proposals of colossal billion-worth ...
... OPEC’s November 2014 meeting, the organization officially abandoned its role as a swing producer by refusing to cut production and support oil prices.
Some analysts speculated that a Saudi-led GCC decision in OPEC was targeted against Iran and Russia. Saudi Arabia has had its own experience with such market conditions in the 1980s and does not want to repeat the same mistake for the sake of other producers’ benefits. Saudi oil minister Ali Al-Naimi was very clear in explaining Saudi oil policy: ...
... Diplomatic Studies held the first Russian-Saudi roundtable on bilateral relations, Middle East situation and the Gulf security.
The event was opened by RIAC Director General Andrey Kortunov, MGIMO Pro-Rector on Research and RIAC member Eugeny Kozhokin, Russian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Oleg Ozerov, Saudi Ambassador to Russia Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Rassi, and Institute of Diplomatic Studies Director Abdulkarim bin Hamoud Al-Dakhil.
The event was attended by key Russian and Saudi experts, with RIAC represented by Ambassador ...
... Russia does have the chance to play a bigger and more effective role in the region.
Recently, Saudi Arabia signed a commitment with Russia to invest up to US $10 billion on various projects, and as part of the agreement, Russia too will invest in the Saudi Arabian market. Russian trade and economic commitments with other GCC states have also increased over the last few years. In 2014 alone trade between Russia and the United Arab Emirates grew to over US $2 billion. Just last year Bahrain signed a number of MOUs with the ...
... relations with Iran, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
The key aim
of Al-Jubeir's visit was "discussion of a broad spectrum of global and regional problems in order to reach agreement for the two countries’ mutual benefit." Since top diplomats of Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States met in Doha in early August, Riyadh seems eager to continue these talks soon.
What do Saudis Want?
REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/Pixstream
Maxim Suchkov:
Time for a Reset in Russian-Saudi Relations
As seen from the talks between ...
... (not incidentally at Pulkovo airport, His Highness was met by Energy Minister Alexander Novak and
Director General of Russian Fund for Direct Investments Kirill Dmitriyv
), peaceful nuclear projects, joint GLONASS-based projects and arms supplies to Saudi Arabia (the Iskander-E short-range ballistic missile system). The weapons part is especially noteworthy, since it gives Russia the opportunity to fill at least a small niche in the U.S.-dominated market.
Even the official list of issues covered by the two leaders is quite meaningful given the inclusion of investment and electric power peaceful nuclear projects, joint GLONASS-based ...
... suffice it to mention its key position on commercial routes from the Red Sea across the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/Pixstream
Leonid Issaev:
Yemen: Following in Afghanistan’s Footsteps?
Second, Russia might obtain some kind of leverage on Saudi Arabia, which has not been friendly to Moscow for about 20 years. Moscow is well aware that the Saudis are seriously concerned about the region. It would be rational to consider creating some pressure on the
sworn friends
. At least, the Houthi ...
... growth again, barring some exceptions, most notably the U.S.A.
“The revisions reflect a reassessment of prospects in China, Russia, the euro area, and Japan as well as weaker activity in some major oil exporters because of the sharp drop in oil prices.... ... may yield better returns in the long term. Some others would instead benefit, but deliberately chose not do so, most notably Saudi Arabia. Countries belonging to this group may be employing this strategy to gain a competitive advantage over a broader ...
