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
Saudi-Russia ties to touch new heights
Jeddah Astronomical Society explores International Space Station’s legacy
- ISS ‘one of the most enduring achievements of the space age,’ society president says
- Structural pressures mount as space station nears end of 27-year mission
RIYADH: The International Space Station is nearing the end of its operational life, with NASA planning to conclude the station’s missions and deorbit it into the Pacific Ocean in early 2031.
Jeddah Astronomical Society president Majed Abu Zahra said a US deorbit vehicle, under development by SpaceX, is expected to guide the ISS toward a controlled reentry over the Pacific Ocean after operations conclude in 2030.
Since the launch of its first module in 1998, the ISS has been in continuous operation, a familiar sight in the night skies, and a landmark of human cooperation in space.
Abu Zahra said the effort will signal a carefully managed end to an era that has shaped spaceflight and microgravity research, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Over more than two decades, agencies from the US, Europe, Russia, Canada, and Japan have worked together, supporting crewed missions, maintaining systems, and conducting thousands of experiments in orbit.
More than 260 astronauts from around the world, including several from Saudi Arabia, have visited the station, contributing to a legacy of global collaboration in science and exploration.
Abu Zahra said that the ISS is now facing significant structural and financial pressures.
The station has remained operational far beyond initial expectations. It was originally designed to operate for about 15 years, but has now been in orbit for 27 years.
Mounting technical and maintenance challenges are affecting key systems on board, with some experiencing technical problems, while micrometeoroids have damaged outer surfaces and air leaks have appeared over time, he said.
Abu Zahra added that annual expenses have risen to more than $3 billion, a major factor behind NASA’s decision to redirect resources toward other priorities, including programs focused on exploring the Moon and Mars.
Abu Zahra said the farewell to the ISS should not be viewed solely as a scientific or technical milestone.
Rather, it represents the end of a period of global human cooperation on an unprecedented scale, as space agencies have worked together for decades despite political differences — one of the most enduring achievements of the space age.
