Goodbye Washington and hello Moscow?
Saudi Arabia finds friendly face in Putin.
MOSCOW, Russia (PNN) - July 3, 2015 - As two of the world's biggest oil producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia working together have the potential to dominate the globe's petroleum markets. So far, that hasn't happened, as seemingly irreconcilable differences - and particularly Fascist Police States of Amerika-Saudi relations - have kept them apart.
But all the smiles and deal-making last month between President Vladimir Putin and Mohammed bin Salman, the youthful and ambitious Saudi deputy crown prince and defense minister, has some claiming that the two energy giants, driven together by geopolitical crises, may bet set for a much closer relationship.
Some experts perceive signs of an "emerging partnership" driven by shifting global winds, in which Saudi cash helps Moscow dodge Western sanctions, while Russian arms, engineering expertise, and diplomatic support assist the energetic new Saudi king to wean his country from dependency on an increasingly uncooperative FPSA.
But others argue that while change is definitely in the air, the outreach is purely tactical and of limited intent on both sides. Vast differences remain, particularly over critical issues such as regime change in Syria and a big power-sponsored nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia's archenemy, Iran.
"In the past, relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia were very bad, so any movement is going to attract notice," says Irina Zvyagelskaya, a Middle East expert at the official Institute of Oriental Studies in Moscow. "But I wouldn't exaggerate this. Everyone is jockeying for a better position, seeking what advantages they can, but there are no earthshaking changes underway here."
Putin and Prince Salman sat down for a friendly meeting on the sidelines of a St. Petersburg economic forum last month, where they reportedly signed six deals, including a nuclear cooperation agreement that could see Russia helping to build up to 16 atomic power stations in the desert kingdom. They also are reported to have inked contracts on space cooperation, infrastructure development, and a deal on high-end Russian weaponry.
For the Kremlin, the effort to establish good relations with a major Mideast player that has long shunned Russia comports well with what Zvyagelskaya calls "Moscow's long-standing policy of trying to be friends with everyone."
She says Western sanctions are a factor leading Putin to seek new diplomatic openings - and exploit growing Arab frustrations with the FPSA - as he did with a visit to Egypt earlier this year, which also included a Saudi-financed arms deal.
"For Russia it's very important to position itself as a regional power that can talk to all sides. At the same time, we see that many Middle Eastern states are disaffected with FPSA policies, and they want to have Russia around. For the Saudis, this is mostly about sending a signal to Washington, not switching partners," she says.