Russia emerges as a major player in the Middle East

Putin’s visit to Saudi Arabia and UAE will help find common ground for cooperation in the region

Vladimir Putin is on a state visit to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. The Russian president made his only trip to Riyadh way back in 2007, and the two leaders have refrained from top-level visits until Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud made a historic first visit to Russia in October 2017. One must bear in mind that the Saudi monarch had never travelled to Moscow during the Soviet era. It is not only the geopolitical landscape but also the gradually broadening agenda for bilateral talks that stir up interest in Putin’s trip.

The signing of the Opec deal to cut the global oil supply has significantly bolstered bilateral relations in recent years. Moscow and Riyadh as the key signatories have managed to stabilise oil prices by constantly interacting on a pragmatic note and monitoring the market. According to official estimates, Russia’s revenues from the collaboration have reached $100 billion.

Moscow and Riyadh will also have to address a wide range of regional security issues from the Gulf to Syria to Yemen. Putin’s visit coincides with the Saudi authorities’ efforts to ease tensions in the Gulf region. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is reported to have consented to the leaders of Pakistan and Iraq acting as intermediaries in talks between Riyadh and Tehran. Moscow could join this process. Riyadh’s steps and its stated readiness to de-escalate with Iran is fully compatible with the collective security framework for the Gulf region presented by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Yemen issue particularly stands out as a grave security concern. Lavrov voiced Moscow’s official position on the matter by noting that inclusive talks are “the only way to resolve the difficult situation in Yemen, which, according to the United Nations, is facing a humanitarian disaster.” Although Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates declare efforts to seek alignment on Yemen, they have been largely fruitless so far. Given the on-theground situation, Russia is leaning toward the UAE and the Southern Transitional Council, which seized power from the Aden-based government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Nevertheless, Moscow has maintained contact with all the players, including the Sanaa-based alliance led by Houthis. The policy of equidistance contributes to Moscow’s working contacts both on a local and regional scale, and Russia expects to work this position during Putin’s visit.

The Syria peace process will be a key item on the Moscow-Riyadh agenda. The launch of a Syrian constitutional committee was announced earlier in September, thereby marking the start of a political process. Turkey is gaining more leverage over the Syrian opposition, yet Putin recently signalled Moscow expects the Saudis to play their role.

“I know that the leaders of Saudi Arabia, whom I am going to visit soon, and the leaders of Iran — we are in constant contact with our Iranian partners, and I met with the president of Iran just a few days ago — wish peace and all the best for the Syrian people. We urge them to be guided by this noble motive and to do everything they can to avoid using Syrian territory as an arena for confrontation,” Putin remarked at the 16th annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi.

Moscow could suggest that Riyadh take a more active role. With the ascendancy of two regional players, Iran and Turkey, Russia deems it important to the balance of power in Syria.

Moreover, Moscow will work toward convincing Riyadh to facilitate Damascus’ return to the Arab League. Foreign Minister Lavrov has been pushing forward with the idea of Syria’s return to the Arab League since early 2018. As of now, Moscow’s main task is to persuade the Saudis to embrace the idea, which Russia expects would be followed by regional recognition of the Syrian government. In turn, this would not only impact the regional diplomatic landscape but also bring about partial international recognition.

Riyadh’s willingness to meet Moscow and Damascus halfway could make it possible for Saudi Arabia and Syria to re-establish ties and, more importantly, strengthen the regional standing of both nations. The Saudis once showed themselves capable of pragmatism, and Bahrain, which resumed diplomatic work with Syria, can be regarded as a litmus test of the necessity to follow suit. There are other players, the UAE in particular, reopening their embassies in Damascus, but they are also taking part in international fairs held in the capital. Emirati and Omani businessmen were not alarmed at the US decision against dealing with Assad’s regime.

Russia has emerged as a major outside player claiming to preserve its presence in the Middle East. This new environment could not but render the existing trend in Russia-Saudi Arabia relations irrelevant. Under new circumstances, Moscow and Riyadh have more capability for productive cooperation and compromise on those issues that the parties still diverge on. It testifies to the two countries’ trying to find common ground for bilateral cooperation free from third parties.

Riyadh’s steps and its stated readiness to de-escalate with Iran is fully compatible with the collective security framework for the Gulf region presented by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs