Russia’s Siluanov visits Saudi Arabia ahead of Russia-US talks

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attends a session of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg on June 16, 2022. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 16 February 2025
Follow

Russia’s Siluanov visits Saudi Arabia ahead of Russia-US talks

  • Siluanov was speaking at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies
  • US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start talks aimed at ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine, a US lawmaker said

MOSCOW: Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov visited Saudi Arabia on Sunday ahead talks between Russia and the United States in the Kingdom scheduled for next week.
Siluanov was speaking at an event called AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund.
US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start talks aimed at ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine, a US lawmaker and a source familiar with the planning said on Saturday.
Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov along with Siluanov and the central bank’s governor Elvira Nabiullina held talks with President of United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on February 15.
Speaking at an event, Siluanov highlighted Russia’s willingness to restructure the debt of foreign countries.
“During the last 25 years we restructured debt of 22 countries for the amount of almost $30 billion. A similar amount we had restructured through bilateral agreements,” Siluanov said. 


King Abdulaziz Foundation reveals rare images from king’s 1916 Basra visit

Updated 20 December 2025
Follow

King Abdulaziz Foundation reveals rare images from king’s 1916 Basra visit

  • Photographs form part of a wider collection documented by British photographer Gertrude Bell

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Foundation has revealed archival photographs documenting King Abdulaziz’s tour of the outskirts of Basra in 1916, a visit that came at an early stage of his efforts to build regional relationships.

One of the photographs, taken by British photographer Gertrude Bell, shows King Abdulaziz standing with his men in the Basra desert, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The image reflects his early political and diplomatic engagement in the region, as he sought to strengthen ties with neighboring areas and engage with the wider Arab and international community, SPA added.

The photograph forms part of a wider collection documented by Bell, which records key developments and transformations across the Arabian Peninsula during the early 20th century.

The Basra visit holds particular significance in King Abdulaziz’s journey as a unifying leader. 

Rather than crossing borders in pursuit of power, the visit reflected an approach focused on stability, cooperation and long-term regional harmony, laying the groundwork for a leadership style defined by pragmatism and openness, SPA said.