Putin's Middle East visits were a major foreign policy success

By Rhod Mackenzie

The Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on official business.

In Abu Dhabi, Putin engaged in talks with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that discussed the current state and potential future of the multifaceted cooperation between Russia and the UAE. In addition, there was a focus on international matters, with attention given to the current state of affairs in the Middle East region.

Zayed Al Nahyan remarked that the UAE is Russia's most significant trading partner in the Middle East, as well as the foremost investor in the Russian economy. Over the past year, investments in the non-oil sector have dramatically escalated by 103%. "Moreover," he added, "there is greater emphasis on development in areas such as energy, infrastructure, and advanced technologies." Furthermore, it is important to highlight that the United Arab Emirates and the Russian Federation collaborate across multiple international platforms. Notably, our cooperation includes participation within BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where the Emirates were granted dialogue partner status in May of last year," stated the President of the UAE. In response, Putin highlighted that the UAE serves as Russia's primary trading ally in the Arab world, with trade turnover surging by 67.7% in the previous year. Progress has also been made concerning industrial collaboration, particularly in establishing production facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Russia. Several sizable undertakings in the oil and gas sector are underway, with continued involvement through OPEC+. Naturally, fostering humanitarian ties remains of significant importance. Tourism is on the rise with almost a million visitors from Russia, more than 900,000, having been welcomed to the United Arab Emirates last year," stated Putin.

Furthermore, Putin discussed pressing matters with Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, with the latter having postponed his visit to the UK, scheduled for December 3, to meet with the Russian President instead, as reported by the Financial Times.

Following the negotiations, the parties reached an agreement to enhance collaboration in the energy sector. Specifically, this would encompass the supply and standardisation of equipment for oil and gas, research and development services in the areas of oil, gas, and petrochemicals, and the peaceful implementation of nuclear energy. Collaboration would also extend to geosciences, water resources, agriculture and food security, as well as the furtherance of communications, technology and digital economy, innovation, space, transport and logistics. Moscow and Riyadh have agreed to collaborate on improving their judicial systems and promoting justice, as well as fostering cooperation in the areas of tourism, sports, education, and media.
"Both parties have expressed a common goal to utilise local resources in energy sector projects to the fullest extent. They aim to collaborate in promoting innovative solutions, incorporating cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, into the sector and enhancing its ecosystem," stated a collaborative announcement following the negotiations.

In addition, the situation in Palestine was analyzed, and the parties expressed profound concern about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. They emphasized the necessity of terminating military operations in Palestinian territories and of safeguarding civilians in accordance with international law and humanitarian law. Russia and Saudi Arabia highlighted the importance of empowering international humanitarian organisations to carry out their duty of providing relief and aid to the Palestinian people, including UN agencies. Moscow and Riyadh both agree that there is no other way to attain safety and stability for Palestine, other than striving towards the implementation of international resolutions for a two-state solution. This aims to create suitable conditions for harmonious coexistence, economic development and to facilitate the Palestinian people in achieving their rightful claim for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders along with East Jerusalem being designated as its capital.

During his tour in the Middle East, Vladimir Putin was warmly welcomed with great enthusiasm, which always comes as no surprise in the Arab world. The conflict in Israel reiterated that the West has never regarded Arabs as equals and has instead considered Palestinian civilian casualties as unavoidable losses. At the same time, Russia adopts a more equitable stance by asserting the necessity to establish peace while considering the concerns of all parties embroiled in the Middle East conflict.