The Admiral Gorshkov dropped anchor in Saudi Arabia’s port of Jeddah, Moscow reports.
Russian Navy ships have paid a visit to Saudi Arabia for the first time in around a decade, the Russian military said on Wednesday. In late March, the detachment, which consists of the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the medium sea tanker Kama, dropped anchor off the coast of the East African nation of Djibouti.
According to a statement released by Russia’s Western Military District, the two vessels “made a working visit to the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.”
During their stay, the ships will replenish their fuel, drinking water, and food supplies, Russian military officials added.
The Admiral Gorshkov is a state-of-the-art Russian navy ship armed with cruise missiles and air defense systems, reported The Associated Press.
The frigate, which can carry state-of-the-art Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, and the accompanying medium sea tanker began their voyage in January of this year, departing from the main base of Russia’s Northern Fleet, Severomorsk.
The detachment has since participated in two international naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, as well as the Arabian Sea, crossing the equator twice, the statement read.
From March 26 to 28, the two vessels were moored at the international seaport of Djibouti, with the aim of enhancing military cooperation between the two countries.
Djibouti and Moscow discussed, among other things, “issues related to ensuring safe navigation” off the coast of Africa and in the Red Sea region Read More
The Gorshkov has been in service since 2018 and is the first ship in a new batch of frigates Russia plans to replace Soviet-era destroyers with. It’s been making stops in numerous countries worldwide from China to Colombia and Cuba (picture above) etc.
The frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the tanker Kama arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday and left less than 24 hours later after a “long arranged” visit, a Russian embassy official in Riyadh told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Russia’s defense ministry said on its website that the port call was the first by a Russian warship in about 10 years.
The two ships took on food and drinking water in the Red Sea port, the ministry said. A “cultural program” was also scheduled for the crew, it added
Saudi Arabia has taken a conciliatory stance over Russia’s operation against the Kiev Regime calling for a political solution.
Russia has worked closely with the kingdom and other members of the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) in efforts to manage the oil markets.
Earlier this month, OPEC and its allies cut production by more than one million barrels per day in a surprise move that sent prices soaring and drew criticism from the United States.