Putin visits Saudi Arabia, UAE on Middle East tour

This pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik shows Russia’s President Vladimir Putin shaking hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of their talks in Riyadh on December 6, 2023. (Photo by Alexey NIKOLSKY / POOL / AFP)

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Saudi Arabia Wednesday after visiting the United Arab Emirates, making a rare trip abroad as Moscow seeks to reassert itself on the global stage.

It is only the third trip the Russian leader has taken outside the former Soviet Union since he invaded Ukraine, following visits to Iran and China, and comes as Moscow seeks to bolster its influence in the Middle East.

Putin was seen greeting the country’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, before the two briefly sat down for televised talks.

“Nothing can prevent the development of our friendly relations,” Putin told Prince Mohammed, inviting the Saudi royal to visit Moscow.

“It is very important for all of us to exchange information and assessments with you on what is happening in the region. Our meeting is certainly timely,” Putin said.

READ: Oil prices rise as Saudi Arabia and Russia stick to supply cuts

Prince Mohammed said bilateral cooperation had “helped remove many tensions in the Middle East and contributed to enhancing security” — and would continue to do so in the future.

The Kremlin said ahead of the meeting that the two would discuss oil markets and ways to promote de-escalation in the war in Gaza.

Since March, Putin has been wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court over the invasion of Ukraine.

He skipped the BRICS summit in August in South Africa, recognizing the ICC, to avoid causing a “political show,” and missed the G20 summit in India in September.

But neither the UAE nor Saudi Arabia have signed the ICC’s founding treaty, meaning they are not obliged to arrest him.

‘Unprecedented relations’

The Russian leader was welcomed with a full cavalry escort and motorcade in the UAE, where he met President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

A national air show team drew a Russian flag with colored fumes in the sky.

“Today, thanks to your posture, our relations have reached unprecedented levels,” Putin told his counterpart at the presidential palace, saying the UAE was “Russia’s main trading partner in the Arab world.”

According to the Kremlin, bilateral trade hit a record $9 billion last year, and Putin said “a number of projects” were underway in the oil and gas sector.

READ: Putin due in China to meet ‘dear friend’ Xi

The UAE currently hosts the COP28 UN climate talks, but the Kremlin did not specify whether Putin attended any related events.

Putin is next set to host Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for talks in Moscow on Thursday as the two countries strengthen economic and military ties in the face of Western sanctions.

With Moscow largely adapted to Western sanctions thanks to rebounding oil revenues and its military fending off a Ukrainian counteroffensive in recent months, analysts say Putin may be sensing reviving fortunes.

“Putin has certainly been speaking more confidently now than any time since the war began,” said Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.