Saudi-Russia ties to touch new heights

[Zarvan]

• 

JEDDAH: Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, will begin an official visit to Russia on Wednesday and hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, a Royal Court statement said.
Prince Mohammed’s landmark visit to Moscow comes on the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the statement said, adding that the minister would meet with a number of Russian officials to explore prospects of expanding cooperation between the two countries.
The royal visit will witness the signing of a number of agreements in various fields and will contribute to further bolstering relations between the two countries, an official statement said. The visit is in response to an invitation from the Russian government.
Prince Mohammed had held talks with Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Oleg Ozerov on regional developments during the past two months.
Saudi-Russian relations began in 1926 when the Soviet Union recognized Saudi Arabia, thus becoming the first foreign country to recognize the Kingdom. In 1930 the Soviet Consulate was upgraded to an embassy.
High-level exchanges of visits played a big role in strengthening relations. King Faisal visited Soviet Union in 1932 when he was the deputy king. King Abdullah’s visit to Russia in 2003 — when he was crown prince — took the Saudi-Russian ties to new heights as he met with President Putin.
During that visit the two countries signed agreements for expanding cooperation in energy, science and technology. King Abdullah also opened an exhibition of Saudi products in Moscow, organized by the Council of Saudi Chambers.
King Salman visited Russia in 2006 — when he was the governor of Riyadh — and the visit contributed to further strengthening ties. Prince Sultan visited the country in 2007 when he was the crown prince and defense minister. Prince Sultan received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of International Relations in Moscow. That visit also expanded trade and economic ties.

Saudi-Russia ties to touch new heights | Arab News

 

[Galad]

Not gonna happen.Not until SA stop the support for terrorism in Syria,Iraq and Caucasus.We all know who are main supporters of so-called " freedom fighters" or Chechen terrorists since 90-ies.Not to mention SA apparently have problems bombing positions of AQ in Yemen but have no problems bombing Shiites there.I doubt SA will stop it so probably the visit will have something to do with demands and ultimatums - like Russia stop supporting Assad.

 

[Red Wolf]

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Not gonna happen.Not until SA stop the support for terrorism in Syria,Iraq and Caucasus.We all know who are main supporters of so-called " freedom fighters" or Chechen terrorists since 90-ies.Not to mention SA apparently have problems bombing positions of AQ in Yemen but have no problems bombing Shiites there.I doubt SA will stop it so probably the visit will have something to do with demands and ultimatums - like Russia stop supporting Assad.

You sure about that?

Saudi Arabia, Russia sign nuclear power cooperation deal​

KHOBAR, SAUDI ARABIA
World| Fri Jun 19, 2015 11:31am BST

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) toasts with Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Russia Abdulrahman Al-Rassi after receiving a diplomatic credential from him during a ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 28, 2015.

REUTERS/SERGEI KARPUKHIN

Saudi Arabia and Russia have signed an agreement to cooperate on nuclear energy development, a Saudi government body in charge of such projects said.

The government body, the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, announced the cooperation deal on its website on Thursday but gave no further details.

Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV, citing unnamed sources, said the kingdom planned to build 16 nuclear reactors in which Russia would play a significant role in operating them.

The Saudi atomic and renewable energy body has already signed nuclear cooperation deals with countries able to build reactors, including the United States, France, Russia, South Korea, China and Argentina.

It is not clear if this new deal, announced on Thursday, will take cooperation with Russia to a more advanced level.

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi was due to meet his counterpart Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in St Petersburg on Thursday to discuss a broad cooperation agreement.

In 2012, Saudi Arabia said it aimed to build 17 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power by 2032 as well as around 41 GW of solar capacity. The oil exporter currently has no nuclear power plants.

Nuclear and solar power stations would reduce the diversion of Saudi Arabia's oil output for use in domestic power generation, leaving more available for export.

(Reporting by Reem Shamseddine. Editing by Jane Merriman)

Saudi Arabia, Russia sign nuclear power cooperation deal| Reuters

Russia ties to touch new heights

ARAB NEWS

Published — Wednesday 17 June 2015

Last update 18 June 2015 5:28 pm

JEDDAH: Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, will begin an official visit to Russia on Wednesday and hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, a Royal Court statement said.
Prince Mohammed’s landmark visit to Moscow comes on the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the statement said, adding that the minister would meet with a number of Russian officials to explore prospects of expanding cooperation between the two countries.
The royal visit will witness the signing of a number of agreements in various fields and will contribute to further bolstering relations between the two countries, an official statement said. The visit is in response to an invitation from the Russian government.
Prince Mohammed had held talks with Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Oleg Ozerov on regional developments during the past two months.
Saudi-Russian relations began in 1926 when the Soviet Union recognized Saudi Arabia, thus becoming the first foreign country to recognize the Kingdom. In 1930 the Soviet Consulate was upgraded to an embassy.
High-level exchanges of visits played a big role in strengthening relations. King Faisal, the a prince representing the king, visited Soviet Union in 1932. King Abdullah’s visit to Russia in 2003 — when he was crown prince — took the Saudi-Russian ties to new heights as he met with President Putin.
During that visit the two countries signed agreements for expanding cooperation in energy, science and technology. King Abdullah also opened an exhibition of Saudi products in Moscow, organized by the Council of Saudi Chambers.
King Salman visited Russia in 2006 — when he was the governor of Riyadh — and the visit contributed to further strengthening ties. Prince Sultan visited the country in 2007 when he was the crown prince and defense minister. Prince Sultan received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of International Relations in Moscow. That visit also expanded trade and economic ties.

Saudi-Russia ties to touch new heights | Arab News

Pacts boost KSA-Russia relations

King Salman to visit Russia as ties between oil giants warm up

​

ENERGY PARTNERS: Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Konstantin Palace outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on Thursday. (SPA)
ARAB NEWS

Published — Friday 19 June 2015

Last update 20 June 2015 1:38 am

ST. PETERSBURG: Saudi Arabia and Russia on Thursday signed a number of strategic military, nuclear and oil agreements.
The agreements were inked on the sidelines of a historic meeting between Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has accepted Putin’s invitation to visit Russia. This was disclosed by Prince Mohammed during his meeting with Putin.
“King Salman has confirmed that he has accepted the president’s invitation to visit Russia,” said the prince.
On behalf of the king, Prince Mohammed extended an invitation to Putin to visit Saudi Arabia.
The Russian president said he would be happy to visit the country. “I remember the warm reception I received in Saudi Arabia,” Putin said.
Prince Mohammed said that Saudi Arabia considered Russia an important partner and recalled that the Soviet Union was the first country to recognize the Kingdom in 1926.
Earlier in the day, Saudi Arabia and Russia signed a military pact and an agreement to cooperate in using nuclear energy for peaceful ends.
According to Russian news agencies, the agreement creates a legal basis for cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy in a wide range of areas, including building nuclear energy reactors and providing services in the nuclear fuel cycle, for nuclear power stations and research reactors, among other things. The agreement includes handling spent fuel and radioactive waste, and the production of radioactive isotopes and their application in industry, medicine and agriculture. It also concerns the training of staff.
The agreement was signed as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) President Hashim Yamani and Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom Director Sergey Kiriyenko signed the document on behalf of their governments.
Saudi and Russian oil ministers also signed a broad-based cooperation agreement.
The deputy crown prince’s visit was successful by all means, as is reflected in a number of agreements signed between the two sides. This will open the door wide open to further boosting cooperation between the two oil giants.
The high-profile delegation accompanying the deputy crown prince includes a number of businessmen as well as senior military and economic officials.

Pacts boost KSA-Russia relations | Arab News

Saudi Arabia, Russia sign nuclear power cooperation deal

You were saying what? Do you know who initiated the contact (KSA does not in any way need Russian support or backing for anything) first? Putin did in late April this very year. We know the reasons why he did so but having cordial or at least better relations does not hurt and KSA would have ignored Putin's approach had it not been in KSA's interest to improve ties with Russia. Vice versa too.

What you call "terrorism" (support of the legitimate Syrian opposition against a genocidal regime who is committing war crimes for the fourth year in a row) most of the world calls doing the right thing and certainly KSA and KSA does what it wants to do in the Arab world and elsewhere on this front.

The support for Chechnya and Chechens was mostly economic (done by Islamic organizations in KSA) and political. Those who went to fight the Russians in the 1990's and early 2000's numbered no more than 2000 people and did it out of their free will. Just like a much greater number of Russians are fighting in Ukraine right now alongside the rebels in East Ukraine (Donbas, Donetsk) which your likes (Putin fanboys and anti-West segment of Europe - mostly confined to small, irrelevant and poor Christian Orthodox countries like Serbia and Bulgaria) ironically call "freedom fighters".

If you ask people in KSA or elsewhere in the Arab world they will tell you that there was nothing wrong with doing what was done. I/we could not care less what others thing about that. Russia was the aggressor, Russia was committing war crimes and the Russian state (going all the way back to events in the 1860's) was and has been the aggressor not only against Muslim Chechens but all peoples of Northern Caucasus. Muslim as non-Muslim. Just like Al-Assad is/was the aggressor.

Those that went to fight in Chechnya did it out of their free will, fought like men and in some cases died for what they believed in. Whether for good or bad.

Aside from that there is a sizable Caucasian community in the Arab world and KSA (only second to Russia and Turkey in the world) and many of those that went to Chechnya were of Caucasian origin or partial Caucasian origin such as Ibn Khattab whose mother was Caucasian. The greatest revolutionary of Caucasus (Imam Shamil) is moreover buried in Hijaz (holy city of Madinah).

KSA is at war with the Houthi terrorist cult and the Yemeni army (pockets of it) that is loyal to the Saleh moron. AQAP is not KSA's fight and the whole world is free to bomb them. Besides of that USA is already targeting them with drones in cooperation with none else but KSA themselves. Aside from that it would be the most foolish thing to do. To open another front. Let's have more AQAP/ISIS attacks in KSA aside from those 2 in recent months. That would for sure be a good thing.

KSA have no doubt told Russia that supporting Al-Assad is a lost game on the long run but whether Russia supports Al-Assad or not he will eventually be removed as you can't "defeat" demographics nor can the Al-Assad regime and his backers win a war of attrition for the same very reason.

I am sorry that I have to be frank and a bit rude but your likes are an annoyance.

 

[Red Wolf]

@Saif al-Arab: Mere business transactions. No real covergence of interests between Russia and KSA.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

@Saif al-Arab: Mere business transactions. No real covergence of interests between Russia and KSA.

http://rueconomics.ru/69089-sergey-...itelstvo-16-energoblokov-v-saudovskoy-aravii/ (use Google Translate)

Yes nuclear cooperation and signing several important business agreements that are mutually beneficial for both countries is not significant compared to the almost non-existing relations just 6 months ago. OK!

Also what are those interests supposed to be? KSA does not border Russia, lies far away from the Russian sphere of influence, has had no historical conflicts with Russia let alone in need of any Russian natural resources as KSA itself is blessed by natural resources in abundance.

So what is KSA supposed to do other than work with Russia in the field of business, trade and nuclear energy/education? Or potentially some military deals of the best that Russia sells? Are we supposed to be importing vodka (a Polish invention) or Ladas? Is KSA left alone with only Russia to cooperate with? I don't get it. Are we supposed to jump on the Al-Assad train? Never will that happen as long as we live.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

What part of business transactions didn't you understand? The business part? or the transaction part?



This is a joke?

• KSA actively financed Afghan jihad against USSR
  
• Dissolution of the USSR was engineered through the oil glut of 1980s in which KSA played a central role
  
• Post-USSR, KSA financed the Chechen jihad
• Russia has repeatedly accused KSA of financing extremist groups
  
• Divergence of Russian and Saudi interests in Syria are pretty clear

If you wish to believe that Russia and KSA relations are 'soaring new heights', as the newspaper claims, you're welcome to do so. Though it reflects desperation, not reality.



Importing vodka to KSA? in Ramadan?

Are you joking? The agreements were just signed for God's sake!

Direct conflict. Read again.

I don't care about relations with Russia personally. I already told you that Russia is not relevant for KSA but that it never hurts to improve relations as long as they are mutually beneficial. It seems that's the case here otherwise KSA and Russia would not have signed those deals. Simple.

You did not get the joke, I see. Lada being included did not help.

Let me make it more clear. Outside of military exports (that is even doubtful considering that KSA can get superior weapons from the West) and what I mentioned Russia has little to no use for KSA unlike other major partners of KSA whether Western or Eastern.

End of story really.

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

Russia needs Saudi investment and militarily sale

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Masturbatory nuances, nothing more.



+1

KSA is building business ties with Russia in the hopes that it would force Russia to think of KSA as a factor in their decision making process since money is involved. However, I'm not sure of that strategy works since it has failed time and time again when it comes to Russia.



This just in:

• I get the joke
• I return the joke
• You drop the ball
• ....
• Sad Panda

This.

That is usually what matters and that's why despite your examples KSA can work with Russia. On the other hand countries that were direct victims of Russian aggression (historically) have a very troubled relationship with Russia. Especially people to people. Something that no Arab country has with Russia for obvious reasons.

The US and Pakistan were pulling most of the strings in Afghanistan and it was perfectly legitimate considering that the USSR (which is non-existent today) was the aggressor in Afghanistan JUST like in Chechnya.

KSA (as in the state) did not. Islamic relief organizations did so mostly and private donors. Russia was the aggressor once again.

KSA and USSR were rivaling oil exporters in the 1980's and are (Russia) to this day. Perfectly normal move too and something that KSA has done recently too yet Russia has no problem dealing with KSA or actually initiating the contact as Putin did in late April.

Differences in for instance Syria or in regards to the US should not be a hindrance for cooperation on other fields. Find me a single country that has no differences regardless of how close they are? KSA even has differences with close allies, neighbors and fellow Arab counties like Qatar and Jordan (to make a few examples) on certain areas. Perfectly normal.

No, that's not the goal. The goal is to improve relations with the end goal being money mostly. Russia is in need of that. Desperately. KSA has no need for Russia to take KSA into "consideration" (whatever that means) in areas of international politics (MENA mostly and Arab world) as the only main difference there is Syria. I don't see any other competing interests of note.

Fair enough. I don't know whether people are serious or not. I have seen it all on PDF.

And what can Russia offer to KSA that KSA cannot buy from its allies (USA, France, UK, China etc.)? Is Russia willing to sell something that can shift any balance in the region knowing fully well how close KSA is politically to USA (their main rivals) and economically to China (another emerging rival)? My guess is little unless KSA/GCC-US relations become really bad which I doubt will ever happen in my life time considering the long-standing ties and close ties/similar interests on many, many fronts, investments etc.

Now don't shot the messenger, your username is by no means a manifestation of your political views, is it?

 

[Viking 63]

Nothing wrong having closer ties with Russia.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Nothing wrong having closer ties with Russia.

There is not. Nobody claimed so or at least I did not.

Russia needs Saudi investment and militarily sale

Indeed. That's why Russia initiated the contact in late April this year. KSA has signed nuclear deals with China, France, South Korea, Japan and the US (there is cooperation there too). Russia is one out of many partners on this front. The most recent one along with France.

It is still very doubtful that KSA will buy any military hardware from Russia and if KSA does it would not be ordinary military hardware but something more serious.

In any case as I said I have personally no problem with improved relations with Russia as long as it benefits KSA but neither did it bother me when we did not have close ties. KSA survived perfectly fine and I am sure that Russia did so too.

To be honest, Russia is not the most trusted ally. We see how they play around with Russian-influenced countries especially the former Soviet Republics.

Look at 60 million big Central Asia for instance full of natural resources. Ruled by pro-Russian dictators and the entire region in total has a smaller economy than 10 million big UAE and very poor living standards! It's a joke. That's what 25 years of Russian influence does. In return look what Western allied UAE amounted to. Or the GCC in the similar time period. A world in difference.

 

[Red Wolf]

That is usually what matters and that's why despite your examples KSA can work with Russia. On the other hand countries that were direct victims of Russian aggression (historically) have a very troubled relationship with Russia. Especially people to people. Something that no Arab country has with Russia for obvious reasons.

The US and Pakistan were pulling most of the strings in Afghanistan and it was perfectly legitimate considering that the USSR (which is non-existent today) was the aggressor in Afghanistan JUST like in Chechnya.

KSA (as in the state) did not. Islamic relief organizations did so mostly and private donors. Russia was the aggressor once again.

KSA and USSR were rivaling oil exporters in the 1980's and are (Russia) to this day. Perfectly normal move too and something that KSA has done recently too yet Russia has no problem dealing with KSA or actually initiating the contact as Putin did in late April.

Differences in for instance Syria or in regards to the US should not be a hindrance for cooperation on other fields. Find me a single country that has no differences regardless of how close they are? KSA even has differences with close allies, neighbors and fellow Arab counties like Qatar and Jordan (to make a few examples) on certain areas. Perfectly normal.

No, that's not the goal. The goal is to improve relations with the end goal being money mostly. Russia is in need of that. Desperately. KSA has no need for Russia to take KSA into "consideration" (whatever that means) in areas of international politics (MENA mostly and Arab world) as the only main difference there is Syria. I don't see any other competing interests of note.

Fair enough. I don't know whether people are serious or not. I have seen it all on PDF.

And what can Russia offer to KSA that KSA cannot buy from its allies (USA, France, UK, China etc.)? Is Russia willing to sell something that can shift any balance in the region knowing fully well how close KSA is politically to USA (their main rivals) and economically to China (another emerging rival)? My guess is little unless KSA/GCC-US relations become really bad which I doubt will ever happen in my life time considering the long-standing ties and close ties/similar interests on many, many fronts, investments etc.

Now don't shot the messenger, your username is by no means a manifestation of your political views, is it?

Rational and intelligent analysis. That's more like you, Saif.

Though I still believe that KSA is buying their way into Russia and nothing wrong with it. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. There is no need for adversarial melodrama. Besides US is shaking hands with Iran so why can't KSA warm up to Russia?

 

[black-hawk_101]

• 

JEDDAH: Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, will begin an official visit to Russia on Wednesday and hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, a Royal Court statement said.
Prince Mohammed’s landmark visit to Moscow comes on the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the statement said, adding that the minister would meet with a number of Russian officials to explore prospects of expanding cooperation between the two countries.
The royal visit will witness the signing of a number of agreements in various fields and will contribute to further bolstering relations between the two countries, an official statement said. The visit is in response to an invitation from the Russian government.
Prince Mohammed had held talks with Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Oleg Ozerov on regional developments during the past two months.
Saudi-Russian relations began in 1926 when the Soviet Union recognized Saudi Arabia, thus becoming the first foreign country to recognize the Kingdom. In 1930 the Soviet Consulate was upgraded to an embassy.
High-level exchanges of visits played a big role in strengthening relations. King Faisal visited Soviet Union in 1932 when he was the deputy king. King Abdullah’s visit to Russia in 2003 — when he was crown prince — took the Saudi-Russian ties to new heights as he met with President Putin.
During that visit the two countries signed agreements for expanding cooperation in energy, science and technology. King Abdullah also opened an exhibition of Saudi products in Moscow, organized by the Council of Saudi Chambers.
King Salman visited Russia in 2006 — when he was the governor of Riyadh — and the visit contributed to further strengthening ties. Prince Sultan visited the country in 2007 when he was the crown prince and defense minister. Prince Sultan received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of International Relations in Moscow. That visit also expanded trade and economic ties.

Saudi-Russia ties to touch new heights | Arab News

Heard that ME is loosing what it has and is asking India for some years to invest in KSA and China is already investing in KSA. I am sure then NATO countries would be there too.

 

[thesolar65]

Where are Russian members??

 

[Zibago]

Russia arming both Iran and Saudia haha