Putin's Red-Carpet Reception in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh
Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, was met with a grand display of hospitality in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, as cannons fired and planes painted the sky with the colors of the Russian flag. Putin, dubbed the "Iron Putin," was itching to discuss the "hot zones," including the turmoil in Ukraine and the Middle East, with the leaders of these oil-rich nations.
Upon Putin's arrival in Abu Dhabi, President Mohammed bin Sajed al-Nahjan warmly greeted him, praising the robust trade between their countries. Putin thanked him for the warm reception, sticking to the friendly rapport between Russia and the UAE that transcended international tensions.
Russia's agenda in the UAE, as per the Kremlin, encompassed talks on trade, investment, and international politics. Furthermore, Putin and the UAE officials discussed implementing the oil production cuts agreed upon by OPEC+, a global oil cartel to which both countries belong. The talks were of significant importance to both nations, given Russia's reliance on petroleum exports.
However, Putin confronted a legal hurdle that required a delicate tango with international law. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague had issued an arrest warrant against Putin, indicting him for the alleged abduction of Ukrainian children to Russia. As a result, Putin boycotted major international events like the G20 summit in India and the summit of the BRICS group of nations in South Africa.
The good news for Putin was that none of these international forums possessed jurisdiction over Saudi Arabia or the UAE, which were both non-signatories to the Rome Statute that established the ICC. This legal loophole, derived from these countries' careful strategic positioning, allowed Putin to defy the ICC warrant and continue his diplomatic outreach.
Insights:
- While Russia sought to strengthen its cooperation with the oil-rich nations, the clandestine visits also served as a platform to discuss potential summit venues between Russia and the US. Russia hoped to bypass Western criticism by hosting an international event in the UAE or Saudi Arabia.
- Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have maintained close personal ties with Putin, bolstering the political and economic cooperation between their countries.
- Both Russia and these Middle Eastern nations have also nurtured their friendships by meddling in each other's geopolitical conflicts, such as the prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia negotiated by the UAE.
- Putin's arrival in the Middle East came against the backdrop of ongoing tensions with Western countries over Ukraine. This robust diplomatic push signaled both Russia's determination to maintain its influence in the region and its ability to double-down on political maneuvers to evade international scrutiny.
Putin's visit to UAE and Saudi Arabia presented a unique juncture to further strengthen key diplomatic and economic ties, as well as to circumvent the international scrutiny brought upon him by the ICC. With its strong relationships and strategic importance in the energy industry, Middle Eastern nations have become indispensable partners for Russia in times of global uncertainty.
