Vladimir Putin has hardly left Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Vladimir Putin, escorted by four Russian Su-35S fighters, flew to the UAE on Wednesday, where he left for Saudi Arabia in the evening. Both countries do not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which in March arrested Putin on charges of war crimes in Ukraine. This fact allows the Russian dictator to slightly expand the small geography of his travels abroad.
Fly somewhere
Putin has barely left Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He has traveled to Iran, where the Kremlin is buying kamikaze drones to bomb Ukrainian cities, and to China, where the Russian economy is increasingly dependent under Western sanctions.
Putin did not go to the BRICS+ summit in South Africa, which signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The visit to the Middle East is intended, among other things, to remove the brand of a pariah on the world stage from the Russian leader and show that Russia has prominent partners, in addition to traditional friends in China, Iran, North Korea and Belarus.
The role of the Russian Federation in the Middle East
Russia is a prominent player in the Middle East, having participated in the war in Syria and still supporting the regime of Bashar al-Assad, as well as contacts with the Palestinian group Hamas and the main sponsor of Islamist groups in the region, Iran.
Russia’s relationship with the UAE and Saudi Arabia is less about war and more about economics, oil and finance.
After the attack on Ukraine, the Emirates became a center of Russian business activity and international trade. Russian oil merchants moved there from Europe, Russian money flowed into Dubai, and many businessmen and their families who left after the start of the war settled there.
In September, reports emerged that the US, UK and EU were concerned about the growing supply of dual-use goods through the UAE to Russia and had sent a representative delegation to the Emirates to discuss it. And in October, the United States imposed sanctions against a UAE company for violating the price ceiling on Russian oil.
On Wednesday, Putin was awaited in Abu Dhabi by roadside military camels, an honor guard and a sky colored by the Russian flag. Despite the fact that the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan did not go to the airport to meet the guest, Putin thanked him “for the colorful and friendly reception.”
The sheikh called Putin a “dear friend,” they praised the strengthening of ties and growing trade, where the open part of the meeting ended.
This visit is needed not only by Putin. The UAE is trying to secure its status as the new Switzerland – a neutral and wealthy country, a magnet for traders and financiers around the world. It is friendly to everyone and therefore an excellent place for international meetings, fairs and – if necessary – peace negotiations.
The President of Iran visited
After visiting the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Vladimir Putin will now meet with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi.
The parties are expected to discuss the war in Gaza during the meeting in Moscow.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.