Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Russia-KSA relations may reach level of strategic partnership: Ru. Amb

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Feb 2023 14:41
  • 1 Shares
5 Min Read

Saudi Arabia and Russia are continuing to bolster their ties as the West seeks to isolate Moscow and condemn Saudi Arabia.

  • x
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Kremlin (AFP)
    Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Kremlin (AFP)

Russia and Saudi Arabia are effectively cooperating in the energy sector and within the framework of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+), Russian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sergei Kozlov told Russian news agency Sputnik. 

"The expediency and effectiveness of such cooperation in the global dimension have been confirmed in practice. This is evident from various crisis situations, including the most difficult period of the coronavirus pandemic," Kozlov said.

The Kremlin said in late January that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed, via a phone call, the importance of cooperation within OPEC+ to safeguard the stability of the global oil market.

According to the diplomat, the coordinated actions of the largest oil producers have made it possible to stabilize energy markets to a large extent. 

"In the current situation, this work continues to be in demand," he added, stressing that Riyadh believed that the introduction of various kinds of illegitimate restrictions, such as sanctions and price caps, only fuels uncertainty and unpredictability in the global energy sector.

A new package of sanctions against Russian oil went into effect earlier this month, with the EU agreeing on a $100 per barrel ceiling for Russian diesel fuel, and $45 per barrel for discounted products such as fuel oil.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said his country would voluntarily reduce oil production by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in March in order to contribute to the restoration of market relations.

"Russia will voluntarily cut production by 500,000 barrels per day in March. This will contribute to the restoration of market relations. When making further decisions, we will make decisions based on the current market situation," the Russian diplomat told a briefing.

Moreover, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman considered in December 2022 that the impact of European sanctions and the G7 imposed price cap on Russian oil "did not bring clear results yet."

Further military cooperation

Related News

Syria welcomes US decision to lift sanctions, hosts US delegation

Trump claims Gaza war to end in weeks, despite ongoing Israeli assault

Russia and Saudi Arabia have also bolstered their efforts to expand military-technical cooperation amid Riyadh’s focus on diversifying defense capabilities, Kozlov said.

"Relevant work in this area has recently intensified significantly. In particular, this is evidenced by regular bilateral contacts, including such a working format as the joint Russian-Saudi intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation," the ambassador added. 

He also told Sputnik that Saudi Arabia is looking for other potential military cooperation partners amid tensions with Washington, and US threats to reassess the parameters of relations with Saudi Arabia, including the military aspect.

Read next: Lavrov meets with GCC FMs, says strengthening cooperation

Saudi Arabia and Russia are partners in OPEC+. However, Western sanctions have forced Moscow to enter Riyadh's regular markets in Asia with low-cost crude, forcing the kingdom to sell more in Europe.

OPEC+ agreed last year to reduce its production target by 2 million barrels per day, or about 2% of global demand, from November to the end of 2023. This caused issues between Saudi Arabia and the United States, as the latter saw Riyadh as Moscow-leaning.

Strategic partnership

According to Kozlov, Moscow's relations with Riyadh may reach the level of a strategic partnership.

"A feature of our political interaction with the Kingdom, which has a real prospect of reaching the level of strategic partnership, is a regular and trusting dialogue at the highest level," the ambassador told Sputnik.

Kozlov added that political relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia have had a steady tendency to progressively develop in recent years, and the basis for this is a common approach to most international and regional issues.

He further noted that there were prerequisites for growing trade between the two in 2023, with the parties seeking to reach an indicator of $5 billion "in the foreseeable future."

Bilateral trade and economic ties between the countries are characterized by positive dynamics, but in January-November 2022, Russian-Saudi trade has slightly decreased, the Russian ambassador revealed. 

"But the volume of $1.6 billion is quite significant. In our opinion, there are good prerequisites for further growth in 2023," he said. "Moreover, both the Russian and Saudi sides intend to reach the indicator of $5 billion in the foreseeable future, outlined by the top leadership of Russia and Saudi Arabia."

Moscow, according to Kozlov, considers Riyadh a promising trade and economic partner, whose role in global and regional affairs is steadily increasing. 

  • United States
  • Moscow
  • Europe
  • Riyadh
  • Russia
  • Price cap
  • Saudi Arabia
  • European Union

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS