Agence France-Presse, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz held talks here Nov. 23 with President Vladimir Putin expected to pave the way for the first purchase of Russian weapons by the kingdom, a close U.S. ally.
Greeting the crown prince at the Kremlin, Putin said discussions would address a range of an international issues, while the prince described Russia as a “friend,” news agencies reported.
Neither side made any public statement following the Kremlin talks.
A Russian diplomat in Riyadh, speaking earlier this week, said he expected the Moscow talks to produce a “framework agreement for military cooperation” that would open the way for Saudi Arabia to buy Russian arms.
Speaking earlier this year after Putin visited Riyadh, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said the desert kingdom was in talks with Russia over the possible purchase of Russian weapons.
“On the armament front, there have been discussions between the two countries.
“They are taking place in accordance with the kingdom’s requirements in terms of armament and with what Russia can provide of the kingdom’s needs for such equipment,” he said.
Saud did not give details, but a diplomatic source in Riyadh had earlier said that Putin’s visit there in February was expected to lead to a “verbal understanding” on the sale of about 150 Russian T-90 battle tanks to the kingdom.
The source said tests were carried out on the T-90 in Saudi Arabia last year to determine the tank’s suitability for harsh desert conditions, and that Russia was also looking to sell Mi-17 helicopters.
Saudi Arabia has traditionally purchased U.S. and other western military equipment but has signaled that it is looking at other suppliers to diversify its arsenal.
Putin’s plan to meet with the crown prince was made public only at the last minute. Prior to meeting Putin, the prince, who is also defense minister, held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In an interview with the state-run ITAR-TASS news agency, Sultan turned his attention to the Middle East and said both Saudi Arabia and Russia had roles to play in stabilizing the situation in Iraq.
“We see violence, murders and destruction in Iraqi land, which contradicts common sense and logic,” the prince was quoted by the agency as saying.
Russia and Saudi Arabia “should work together at regional and international levels for security and peace in Iraq.”
A joint Russian-Saudi statement, published by the Russian foreign ministry, said that “the sides spoke in favor of creating an independent and viable Palestinian state and called on the international community to give additional aid to the Palestinian people.”
The agenda also included the situation in Lebanon, with “both sides calling on all political forces and Lebanese society on all levels to step up dialogue and work on reaching accord.”
Officials in Moscow had declined to provide further information on the agenda for Sultan’s talks with Putin.
Lavrov said the prince’s meeting with Putin would focus on implementing agreements that were penned when the Russian president was in Riyadh.
He said Russia-Saudi ties had entered a phase of “intense development.”
The prince said “we are satisfied with Russian policy and we hope that it will continue.”
