How Did the Major Crises Form a Special Relationship Between Bin Salman and Putin?

At a time when world leaders have boycotted Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country is under unprecedented harsh sanctions for the military invasion of Ukraine, the Kingdom seems to be taking a more flexible stance.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) received a telephone call from Putin on March 3, 2022, during which he discussed relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them in various fields, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

 

Ready to Mediate

On the war in Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, MBS assured Putin of his country's support for efforts leading to a political solution that would end it and bring security and stability, and that the Kingdom was ready to make efforts to mediate between all parties.

MBS discussed with Putin the impact of the Ukraine crisis on energy markets, where the crown prince expressed the Kingdom's keenness to maintain the balance and stability of oil markets, and referred to "the role of the OPEC+ agreement in this and the importance of maintaining it."

"The Russian president and the Saudi crown prince have confirmed that the two countries will continue their cooperation in the oil markets," the Kremlin said in a statement.

"The two sides discussed the sanctions imposed by some Western countries on Russia following its military operation in Ukraine," the statement said. Putin said it was "unacceptable to politicize global energy supply issues."

On March 3, 2022, the Wall Street Journal published a report stating that "The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, "rejected" calls from U.S. President Joe Biden about the Ukraine crisis, sparking widespread controversy.

On March 10, Reuters reported that "there are many problems between the United States and its Gulf allies that need to be addressed broadly and resolved."

The relationship between Putin and MBS has been characterized by its own character, which has transcended historical dimensions that recognize that the Kingdom belongs to its largest Western ally the United States, and that Moscow has always been on a far and conservative side in the relationship with Riyadh.

But today is not yesterday, with the influence of MBS, the most powerful man in the country, Saudi-Russian ties have converged, in historic strategic shifts that have re-outlined the map of relations.

 

Breaking Isolation

With this reality, it cannot be hidden that a distinguished relationship between the two parties emerged after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated at his country's consulate in Istanbul in 2018 by a Saudi killing squad ordered by MBS.

The G20 summit was held immediately thereafter in Argentina, and as state leaders moved away from the Saudi crown prince and made sure not to appear with him, Putin did the opposite.

Putin surprised everyone at the time, breaking the isolation of the outcast prince, shaking his hand warmly, and even in a manner beyond the "protocol" of peace between presidents and state leaders, a position that MBS kept for the Russian president all the time.

On the contrary, The Washington Post reported at the same time that MBS’ son- Jared Kushner, son-in-law and senior adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump, would not forget the West's coup against him.

This was a clear reference to Western criticism of Riyadh and its account of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In contrast, MBS said in an interview with The Atlantic magazine on March 3, 2022, in response to a question that U.S. President Joe Biden misunderstood him, "I simply don't care, it's up to him to think about America's interests."

The two countries should not interfere in each other's internal affairs.

 

Shifts Towards Russia

Despite the strategic alliance with the United States of America, and the close link between the two countries, but since the beginnings of MBS’ rise to the pyramid of power, he has made an extensive lead with Russia, and has already made multiple visits to it.

On June 19, 2015, when he was crown prince, MBS traveled to Moscow.

He was greeted at the time by President Putin, with whom he signed six agreements and memorandums of understanding in the areas of military and technical cooperation, housing and the energy sector, as an advanced step towards expected cooperation.

His second visit was on May 30, 2017, and he was also greeted by Putin, dominated by the discussion of oil files and energy agreements, as well as the changes in the Middle East as the Syrian crisis worsened.

Putin's historic visit to Saudi Arabia, his first in 12 years, came on October 14, 2019.

The visit, praised by King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, was arranged and attended by crown prince MBS, during which several agreements were signed.

The visit highlighted Moscow's growing rise in the Middle East and embodied Putin's growing influence in Saudi Arabia.

 

Status Quo

In parallel with the rapprochement between MBS and Putin, another reality is imposed between the two countries, Turkish writer Mehmet Rakipoğlu said in an article in the Turkish newspaper Star Açık Görüş, published on May 7, 2021.

"The change in Riyadh's administration's view of Russia is directly linked to the change in its view of the United States," says Rakipoğlu.

"U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia was under former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump that worried Riyadh, which led it to look for alternatives in its foreign policy," he said.

The U.S. retreat has also increased Russia's influence in the region, making the Saudis see Russia as an important player in the region's future.

"Although Saudi Arabia is not satisfied with Russia's rapprochement with Iran and Bashar al-Assad's regime in Damascus, it is approaching the Kremlin because of its firm and anticipated policy in Syria, Libya and Yemen."

"Saudi Arabia believes that filling Russia’s gap left by the United States in line with disciplined, ambitious and realistic objectives is positive," he said.

French writer Julie Kebbi went further in an article in the French newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour published on October 17, 2019, when she described Salman as "Putin's tool for implementing his plan in the Middle East."

"Recent developments in northeastern Syria have strengthened the Russian president's position in the Syrian game, and he may have the last word more than Tehran and Ankara, so Vladimir Putin, who visited Riyadh, seems to be counting on Mohammed bin Salman to implement his plan," she said.

The French writer said Moscow intends to take advantage of the political vacuum left by Washington to put its pawns in the Gulf, specifically Saudi Arabia, to work for Syria's return to the Arab League.