Vladimir Putin arrived in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for a two-day trip, where he met with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Crowned Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

A diplomatic business strategy has come to the fore with this visit.

Why is the Putin’s trip ‘rare’?

Putin has rarely traveled abroad in recent years. Most of what he visited have been in former Soviet Union countries apart from his last visit which was to China last October.

How is ICC’s arrest warrant against Putin nullified in UAE and SA?

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March on charges of war crimes stemming from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. He was accused of forcibly taking Ukrainian children to Russia. Due to this, his foreign travel has been limited.

Russia, however, has denied the war crimes allegations and called the ICC’s action offensive.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE are members of the ICC. As a result, there is no danger of Putin being arrested in both countries.

OPEC and its allies reached a consensus on oil production cuts last Thursday. Accordingly, in the first quarter of 2024, oil production will be reduced by 2.2 million barrels per day. This includes 1.3 million barrels, or 1.3 million barrels each, cut by Saudi Arabia and Russia.

The announcement of the Russian president’s visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia came after OPEC cut oil production.

Agenda behind the tour

On November 30, OPEC producers, including Russia, agreed to voluntarily decrease oil production by 2.2 million barrels per day. Saudi Arabia, Russia and other members of OPEC produce more than 40% of the world’s oil. The countries announced this by issuing a statement.

A contemporary report said Putin traveled to the two Gulf states to discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas war as a way to restore Russian influence in West Asia. Importantly, Hamas maintains good relations with Russia.

Putin wants to exploit the relationship with these middle east countries and assert himself in the crisis.

On Wednesday, Putin traveled to the United Arab Emirates where he met Abu Dhabi President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. Later, on Thursday, he spoke to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.

Putin’s ploy to maintain ties with Israel and Hamas has positioned him as a potential mediator.

Discussion with UAE President

Putin landed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, where the UN’s COP28 climate talks are being hosted.  He was escorted to the presidential palace, where he was greeted with a 21-gun salute and a flyby of UAE military jets trailing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag.

Mr. Putin last visited the UAE in 2019, receiving a warm welcome from Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed. The president of the United Arab Emirates launched an attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

The Israel-Hamas war is a major concern for the Middle East, particularly the UAE, which reached diplomatic recognition with Israel in 2020.

Recent attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have also threatened commercial shipping in the Red Sea, as has Iran’s nuclear program. Putin is scheduled to meet with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi on Thursday for what

The two countries have discussed ways to circumvent Western sanctions.

Discussion with Prince of Saudi Arabia

President Vladimir Putin arrived in Saudi Arabia after his visit to United Arab Emirates. Putin announced the visit as oil prices fell on the global market despite OPEC and its allies cutting oil production.

According to Saudi media Arab News, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

After that, Putin met with Crowned Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia at the Yamamah Palace in the Saudi capital. This is Prince Salman’s first face-to-face meeting with Putin since 2019.

Mr Putin invited the crowned prince to visit Moscow.

Together, Putin and Mohammed Salman control one-fifth of the oil-pump daily. Both have sometimes been neglected by the West.

MBS has attempted to restore Saudi Arabia as a regional power with less respect for the United States. Putin, who sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Both MBS and Putin, both want higher oil prices to be the lifeblood of their economies.