Russian and Saudi foreign ministers meet in Moscow, praise bilateral ties

Aug 13, 2015 Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir recently met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow to discuss the bilateral relationship between the two countries as well as international cooperation.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia took a slight detour following Russia’s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who isn’t in Saudi Arabia’s good books. However, according to Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, the bilateral ties between the two countries will be strengthened this summer.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a prior meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Mohammad Bin Salman in June on the sidelines of the St.Petersburg economic forum.

Lavrov commented on that visit, saying “Our relations have significantly intensified lately. And we see great importance in the visit by Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Muhammad bin Salman to the Russian Federation and his talks with President Putin in St.Petersburg,”

He added

“The agreements reached at that time open a path to close cooperation in various areas both in our bilateral relations and with regard to cooperation in regional and international affairs,”

Saudi’s minister of Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubeir also commented on the improvement in the relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia after President Putin’s meeting with Saudi’s Defense Minister.

“These documents and meetings that happened in St.Petersburg have paved a solid basis for continuation of our cooperation in all areas…We have many questions and possibilities for discussion of a wide range of questions of both the regional and the international agenda and to reach agreements in a way that would be in the interest of our countries,” Jubeir said.