This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin is reaping the rewards of a year marked by diplomatic victories. The failed counteroffensive in Ukraine and cracks within the leadership of the Kiev government have strengthened Putin’s hand. Additionally, the Gaza War, which has diverted international attention from Ukraine to Israel, has strategically favored the Kremlin.
Following the West’s unequivocal support for Israel in the Middle East conflict, Putin seized the opportunity to assert leadership in the Global South. In this context, the Russian leader paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Saudi Arabia.
Despite being an ally of the United States, the United Arab Emirates maintains close ties with Russia. Putin received a warm welcome, with the UAE Air Force jets flying in formation, emitting smoke in the colors of the Russian flag. Soldiers on horses and camels lined the arrival route, while Russian and UAE flags waved from the poles. The grand reception underscored the extensive relations between the UAE and Russia.
The reception serves as a testament to the inconsistency of the Western narrative regarding Russia’s alleged global isolation. Images of Putin’s warm welcome in the UAE sharply contrasted with the reception of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Qatar, where the German politician was intentionally kept waiting on the plane for half an hour.
Upon Putin’s arrival in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, he and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged a firm handshake and smiles. Putin remarked that Russian-Saudi relations had reached “a level they have never seen before.” As OPEC+ members, the Russian president and the Saudi crown prince discussed further cooperation on oil prices on Wednesday, according to a Kremlin spokesperson. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has already announced plans to produce less oil next year, aiming to drive prices higher, benefiting the Global South countries. In the OPEC+ format, Saudi Arabia and Moscow coordinate their actions. Russia depends on high oil prices to finance the increased costs of armaments in the Ukraine conflict.
Putin and bin Salman, who jointly control a fifth of daily oil production, have maintained close relations for a long time. This relationship developed as Riyadh sought to balance its ties with the West and the East.
Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia play a significant role in international efforts to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Putin has already labeled the Gaza War as a failure of U.S. diplomacy. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have made it clear at various points that they do not want to take sides in the larger conflict between Russia and the West.
Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia aim to become members of the BRICS group under Russian leadership next year. From the Kremlin’s perspective, this would be another step towards a multipolar world order, seeking to replace the order dominated by Washington. Putin will continue his diplomatic efforts on Thursday by hosting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Kremlin. Since the Ukraine war, a new alliance is forming among Global South states, unwilling to be constrained by the Western world order. Putin’s diplomatic endeavors continue to shape a narrative of Russia’s ascendancy on the global stage.
