The anticipated visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2019 is aimed at settling several mutual concerns and set to mark a new historical chapter in the relations between Moscow and Riyadh. However, the anticipation is not based solely on the fact that the Russian President will visit Riyadh for the first time since restoring relations in 1992, but rather on what is expected to occur according to predictions that mark the trip as important and pivotal

As Moscow returned to the Middle East through the Syrian conflict, it joined Riyadh in becoming a regional power with distinct global ambitions, naturally becoming a rival in cases that vary from Syria to Palestine, Yemen, and oil, etc.

In addition, in spite of what the relationship between the two countries has gone through, Moscow and Riyadh managed to come closer to mutual understanding and cooperation regarding different issues through King Salman’s visit to Moscow in 2017, the conversations between President Putin and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the G20 summit which was followed by the visit of the Russian Foreign Affairs minister in 2019, and his meeting with the Saudi King as well as the Saudi Minister Adel al-Jubeir. 

*The English translation is currently unavailable.