The sixth meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (Gulf Cooperation Council) on strategic dialog has just been held in Moscow. The meeting revealed a great determination of both sides to make progress on all topics and to establish strong, deep-rooted ties at all levels. The meeting also indicated that both parties are better prepared than ever before to form a long-term strategic partnership. Mutual agreement on a number of key issues, as well as convergence on regional issues such as the Palestinian question and dialogues on Syria, Libya, Lebanon, and Yemen, are evidence of this, as is security in the Persian Gulf, freedom of maritime navigation, trade flows, and the security of oil facilities.
Furthermore, the meeting’s finalized declaration underlined areas of collaboration in which both parties aspire to continue further, such as political and economic cooperation as well as engagement to solve environmental and climate change issues. This is in addition to endeavoring to resolve the Western-led war in Ukraine against Russia, secure the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and handle other issues of mutual concern.
This understanding can be said to have arisen from a framework of shared motives and overlapping points of view. Given the geopolitical and security requirements that drive Russian foreign policy, Russia is paying special attention to improving its partnership with the Gulf countries. At the top of these imperatives is the need to affirm Russia’s rightful status as a major world power capable of protecting its interests, national security, and geopolitical spheres, as well as breaking the vicious circle of the Western agenda imposed on it, particularly Western sanctions, which have been unprecedentedly expanded and accelerated since the beginning of the war in Ukraine unleashed by the West.
It should be noted that the volume of trade exchange between Russia and the Gulf States amounted to 11 billion dollars in 2018, compared to 7.6 billion dollars in the latest statistics for 2021. This makes this alliance crucial from Russia’s position, given the confrontation it is presently involved in with the West, which is having a major negative impact on the Russian economy.
Additionally, these agreements are in line with Russia’s initiatives to expand its influence within a multipolar world order, maintain its strategic stability, and form alliances with as many nations as possible.
In order to offset the aggressive Western tactics that attempt to destabilize Russia and remove it from the power equation in order to prevent it from wielding influence as a superpower, Moscow also strives to forge friendly alliances.
Given the region’s status as an important and productive partner for Russia at the political and economic levels, relations with the countries of the Persian Gulf are one of Moscow’s strategic priorities based on these strategic perspectives. Furthermore, there is no denying that Saudi Arabia and a few other Gulf nations have played a significant diplomatic role in gaining Russia’s trust. This, in turn, could assist Gulf states in playing a mediating role in advancing political resolutions, building on the success of previous efforts by Riyadh and Abu Dhabi that resulted in achievements such as the US-Russia prisoner exchange deal in Ukraine, as well as efforts to alleviate some aspects of regional humanitarian crises.
In view of a number of issues, the Gulf states share Russia’s desire to expand ties and promote shared interests. The main ones are: Russia’s intense involvement in regional disputes and issues over the past ten years; Russia’s growing political and military presence in the Middle East, including its involvement in the Syrian crisis, which has given its navy a base in the Mediterranean Sea’s warm waters; Russia’s active involvement in settling territorial issues. For these reasons, Russia has emerged as a key player in the Middle East and is currently in demand by regional powers, such as the Gulf states.
Additionally, the Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, have established a foreign strategy focused on varying their alliances with the major powers of the globe, utilizing changes in the global order to their advantage and extending the reach of their strategic independence. Without a doubt, these nations actively support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s constantly expanding push to forge a multipolar world in which they can act decisively in their own interests and not just serve the egotistical goals of the West, led by the United States. Before our very eyes, the outdated policies of a unipolar world are disintegrating in favor of fresh concepts and new approaches.
The most notable instances in this regard are Saudi Arabia’s stance on the OPEC+ oil production cuts, the establishment of a strategic alliance with China, and its impartial attitude on the conflict in Ukraine. The historical concerns Moscow had regarding the Gulf states have been alleviated as a result of these developments.
Comparable to this, Moscow’s impartial stance on regional affairs has encouraged the Gulf states to forge closer connections with Russia, which has been successful in projecting itself as a trustworthy partner to the nations of the region. The Gulf states’ balanced attitude on the Ukraine war, as well as high-level coordination with Russia within the OPEC+ bloc, which is exclusively focused on Russian and Saudi interests, demonstrate the benefits of this friendly relationship. Both sides also collaborated to achieve a balance between consumers and producers in energy markets, which aided global economic growth.
It is also fair to argue that recent geopolitical developments in the Gulf have created a favorable diplomatic climate for Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council to enhance bilateral relations. Saudi Arabia’s new foreign policy has also given China the opportunity to play a significant role in the region. China’s strategic position in the region serves as a model for Russia to follow in further strengthening a strong alliance with the Gulf states in light of competition with the United States.
Thanks to the current climate of openness that has come from the understanding between Saudi Arabia and Iran, mediated by Beijing, Russia can now play a more effective role without the constraints that were earlier imposed on it as a result of prior confrontations between Iran and the Persian Gulf. The Middle East as envisioned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud offers an opportunity for world powers, particularly Russia, to work together on economic and political fronts to shape the future of the region and help it move from its current state of unrest and conflict to one of stability and growth.
Given the region’s standing as an essential and effective partner, relations with the Persian Gulf countries are one of Moscow’s key objectives.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami
Since the Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council conference in 2011, the conditions have never been more ideal and convenient for the adoption of a mutual cooperation agenda than now. This is despite the difficulties that have impeded bilateral relations in recent years. It appears that current geopolitical shifts in the regional and global arenas, in addition to the Gulf Cooperation Council states’ ambitions, development plans, and efforts to diversify their ties and international relations, not to mention a more independent foreign policy, will take this relationship to a new level and propel it to a deeper, more mutually beneficial stage than it has previously reached, allowing both sides to realize their shared strategic interests. It should be stressed that this is not about sending sophisticated weapons into the region and forming military blocs, as the militarized US was formerly known for, but about forging political and economic partnerships that better serve the interests of all stakeholders. This is one of the most dramatic illustrations of Vladimir Putin’s vision of a multipolar world coming to reality.
The development in relations occurs as Russia is acknowledged as a world power with significant weight and presence in the Middle East and worldwide, as well as rising acknowledgement of the Gulf States’ new role as a major actor on the regional and global scene. Along with the significant advancements made by the Gulf nations—most notably Saudi Arabia—under the ambitious and truly unique Saudi Vision 2030 for a new Middle East, this is also a significant development. In turn, this offers a crucial foundation for growing alliances with global powers, including Russia above all else, away from polarization of powers and factions without any conflicts or threats. In front of our very eyes, a brand-new world is being created for the benefit of all mankind.
Viktor Mikhin, corresponding member of RANS, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.