Deputy crown prince’s key visit to Russia

Russia is a very important global power with key role in world affairs and Middle East issues. It is a vast country and a major player in international politics.
The current high-profile visit of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, highlights the need for more cooperation between the two countries.
Prince Mohammed’s visit that comes in the wake of a number of developments in the region, including the Yemen crisis, is a significant one that will eventually build a better relationship with Russia. It will see an upswing in the ties between Riyadh and Moscow. The royal visit will witness the signing of a number of agreements in various fields and will contribute to further bolstering relations.
The council of ministers in its weekly meeting chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman decided to sign an agreement with Russia for cooperation in space exploration for peaceful purposes.
Saudi-Russian relations began in 1926. In 1930 the Soviet Consulate was upgraded to an embassy. High-level exchanges of visits played a big role in strengthening relations. King Faisal, then a prince and 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, .
Russia has played a key role in the Arab world and the Kremlin needs honest and sincere friends in this region. When it comes to the Middle East it needs good advice.
It has very wisely turned to the Kingdom and the visit by the deputy crown prince is therefore highly significant. Made at the invitation of the Russians, it marks a new beginning for Russian Middle East policy. The consequences of the deputy crown prince’s talks with Putin could be far-reaching. Presently, there has been an agreement to expand cultural and scientific ties. But from such links much greater developments can grow.
Saudi Arabia and Russia are the world’s two largest oil exporters. They have a shared interest in a stable and healthy oil market. Putin has committed himself to major extra spending on defense. Russia is not very comfortable with Washington. The Kingdom with its longstanding relations with the United States offers a new and thoughtful channel between the Kremlin and the White House. Saudi Arabia has never used megaphone diplomacy. It prefers to analyze problems and then act quietly but decisively. The Russians must have seen and admired the firm intervention that the Kingdom has led in Yemen.
It shares with the Kingdom the view that Iran represents a rising threat not simply in the Middle East but also the Caucasus. Russia is within striking distance of Iranian missiles and is surely just as concerned as the Gulf states at the very real possibility that in the not too distant future those missiles could be carrying nuclear warheads.
King Salman has praised Russia and pointed out that in 1926, the then Soviet Union was the first state to recognize the new Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In authorizing a range of agreements, the king has broken new ground. One exciting move is the space development program being undertaken by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in cooperation with the Russian space agency.
The Cabinet authorized the KACST president to hold talks with the Russian side to sign a draft memorandum of joint intent between KACST and the Russian Space Agency.
The potential here is striking. In an increasingly competitive satellite launching market, considerable financial demands are being made to develop new technologies. Prince Sultan bin Salman is so far the only Saudi to have gone into space. It can surely be expected that others from the Kingdom will now follow in his footsteps.
But returning to earth, the benefits of this new era of cooperation and understanding between Riyadh and Moscow are likely to be extensive. On the diplomatic front the achievements will probably be subtle but nevertheless telling. Russia will benefit from the Kingdom's international standing, not least in the Muslim world. Russia for its part has much to offer in the way of technology transfer, which could help further develop Saudi Arabia's non-oil economy.