Published 16:24 IST, October 15th 2019
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in UAE, after Saudi Arabia
Vladimir Putin has arrived in the United Arab Emirates on his first visit to the oil-rich nation in over a decade, after meeting with Saudi Arabia royals
Russian Vladimir Putin has arrived in the United Arab Emirates on his first visit to the oil-rich nation in over a decade. Putin landed on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi after earlier visiting Saudi Arabia. He was met at the airport by Abu Dhabi's powerful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. While in Saudi Arabia, one topic of discussion was oil production. Russia is now working with OPEC, as are other nations not part of the cartel, to control production to help raise energy prices.
Putin in Saudi Arabia
Russian President arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, where he was set to seal oil agreements and try to use his influence to defuse tensions boiling in the Gulf. His meetings with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman comes following attacks on Saudi oil installations that Riyadh and Washington have blamed on Moscow ally Tehran.
The oil will be "the main topic of discussion" between the leaders, Russian political analyst Fyodor Lukyanov said, as a deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Moscow is due to expire next spring. Moscow is not a member of OPEC, but it has worked closely with the group to limit supply and push up prices after a 2014 slump that wreaked havoc on the economies of Russia and cartel heavyweight Saudi Arabia.
In an interview with Arabic-language television channels ahead of his visit, Putin praised his good relations with the Saudi royals. "We will absolutely work with Saudi Arabia and our other partners and friends in the Arab world... to reduce to zero any attempt to destabilize the oil market," he said in the interview broadcast Sunday.
(With PTI inputs)
Updated 16:36 IST, October 15th 2019