Russian President Vladimir Putin is making rare foreign trips to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. These are his first visits outside of Russia since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. The trips highlight the importance of Middle Eastern relations and oil exports for Russia.
In the UAE, Putin will meet with President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan to discuss bilateral cooperation and the situation in the Middle East. Trade between Russia and the UAE has grown significantly in 2022.
Putin will then meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They are expected to discuss trade and investment ties, which have also expanded lately, especially in areas like agriculture, fertilizer, and energy.
The trips indicate Russia's reliance on neutral Middle Eastern states for commerce and sanctions evasion. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have not joined Western sanctions on Russia over Ukraine. Energy ties are likely a key topic in Putin's talks.
The visits also enable Putin to travel abroad without risk of arrest, as the UAE and Saudi Arabia haven't ratified the treaty establishing the authority of the International Criminal Court to issue Putin's war crime indictment.