Russian President Vladimir Putin embarked on a rare foreign trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf nations. This visit marks a significant move for Putin, who has largely limited his travel since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March 2023 for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did something unusual by going on a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf nations. He visited during the COP28 UN climate summit in the UAE, and they talked about issues like conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine and oil production.
Putin hasn’t been traveling internationally much since March due to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged war crimes. Despite this, he plans to meet with Iran’s leader in Moscow. The ICC claims he illegally sent Ukrainian children to Russia, but the UAE and Saudi Arabia don’t accept the court’s authority.
Putin skipped recent international meetings, like Brics in South Africa and the G20 summit in India. These visits are part of Russia’s plan to have more influence and counter Western efforts to isolate the country.
Huge Welcome
When Putin arrived in the UAE, he got a big welcome with a cavalry escort, a motorcade, and an air show drawing the Russian flag. He talked with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan about trade and oil, highlighting the UAE as a crucial economic partner for Russia in the Arab world.
Later, Putin visited Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They focused on working together, with Putin inviting the crown prince to visit Moscow and stressing the importance of sharing information about what’s happening in the region.
The presence of Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechen Republic, at the meeting between Putin and the Saudi Crown Prince was controversial. The Kremlin said they would discuss ways to calm the conflict between Israel and Hamas, along with conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Sudan.
Russian news agency Tass reported that Putin and the crown prince also discussed Opec+ cooperation. Kremlin officials announced Putin’s upcoming meeting with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi to discuss the Gaza conflict.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Putin has mostly traveled to Russian-occupied Ukraine, Iran, and China. Overall, Putin’s rare foreign trip to the Gulf states is a significant development with potential implications for the global geopolitical landscape.