Putin makes rare foreign trip to Gulf states

Russian President Vladimir Putin has undertaken a rare foreign trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. The discussions are expected to cover topics such as the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as oil production. Notably, the UAE is hosting the COP28 UN climate summit. Despite facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to alleged war crimes, including the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children, both the UAE and Saudi Arabia do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.

Putin’s visit is seen as part of Russia’s efforts to assert influence and counter isolation attempts by the West. In the UAE, trade and oil are key agenda items, as it is described as Russia’s primary economic partner in the Arab world. Putin also traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussing bilateral cooperation and regional events. The leaders reportedly addressed ways to promote de-escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict and discussed conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Sudan.

Furthermore, Putin is set to meet Iran’s President Ibrahim Raisi to discuss the war in Gaza. This trip follows Putin’s limited international travel since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with visits restricted to Russian-occupied Ukraine, Iran, and China.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright