2023-12-06 20:58:00
Russian President Vladimir Putin Begins Tour to Saudi Arabia and UAE
Russian President Vladimir Putin has embarked on a tour to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to strengthen relations with West Asian countries. This comes as Russia has faced increasing isolation from Western countries due to the Ukraine war and subsequent economic sanctions.
On Wednesday, Putin was welcomed by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, upon his arrival at Qasr Al-Watan Airport in Abu Dhabi. He then met with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss bilateral relations.
Putin’s visit to Saudi Arabia will include talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with a focus on improving ties between the two countries.
This marks Putin’s first trip outside of China and the former Soviet Union since the start of the corona virus pandemic in 2019. It is part of Russia’s efforts to maintain its prominence internationally and strengthen its influence in the West Asian region.
However, Putin’s visit is not without controversy. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of illegally deporting Ukrainian girls to Russia during the invasion of Ukraine. While neither the UAE nor Saudi Arabia are member states of the International Criminal Court, Putin’s attendance at the UN climate conference in Saudi Arabia is uncertain due to these arrest warrant concerns.
Despite the controversy, Putin’s tour is seen as a crucial step in Russia’s efforts to expand its influence and counter the isolation it faces from Western countries.
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