Over the past nine decades, Saudi-Russian relations have enjoyed common understanding, convergence of visions, and compatibility of interests. This strategic relationship has strengthened the great potential possessed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation in various fields, which the leaderships of the two countries were keen to develop to benefit the two friendly peoples.

The political history between the two countries dates back to 1926 AD, when the Soviet Union – at that time – recognized the Kingdom. It became the first country in the world to recognize the establishment of the Kingdom, and in 1930 AD the Soviet consulate in Jeddah was converted into an embassy.

The historic visit of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – to Moscow in 1932 AD, under the guidance of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman – may God have mercy on him – established the nucleus of Saudi-Russian relations.

The mutual visits witnessed a new phase in bilateral relations between the two countries, after their era was renewed on September 17, 1990, through the issuance of a joint statement announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations between them on firm foundations and principles.

This comes as the mutual understanding between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation continues and develops to advanced stages supported by the international partnership that brought them together in the G20, which includes 20 of the world’s strongest economies. It contributed to pushing their relations to greater joint cooperation in the political, economic, scientific, cultural and energy fields.

Based on the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and in response to the invitation of the Russian government, His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, visited the Russian Federation on June 18, 2015, and that visit contributed to increasing the Saudi-Russian rapprochement, in order to achieve the interests of The two countries share common security in the region.

To enhance bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, met with President Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, on the sidelines of the G20 summit, which was held in the Turkish city of Antalya in 2015, and the two leaders reviewed areas of cooperation between the two countries, and related developments. Events in the region.

Within the framework of communication between the two countries, His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince, Prime Minister and head of the Kingdom’s delegation at the G20 summit, which was held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou in 2016, met with President Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

On May 30, 2017, upon the directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and in response to the invitation submitted by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, visited the Russian Federation; To discuss bilateral relations, enhance aspects of cooperation between the two friendly countries, and discuss issues of common interest.

The two countries, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and President Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, were able to bring closer views on many issues in the region, through understanding the circumstances of each issue, and the position of each country towards it.

The visits between the two countries culminated in the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, to Moscow in October 2017, which was the first visit of a Saudi king to Moscow, and witnessed a distinguished celebration from President Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Russian President held a bilateral meeting during which they discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop them in all fields, in addition to discussing regional and international issues.

The visit witnessed the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, receiving an honorary doctorate from the Moscow State University of International Relations, while honoring the Moscow State University of International Relations ceremony on this occasion.

In response to the invitation extended to the Crown Prince by Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit the Federal Republic of Russia, to meet him and attend the opening ceremony of the 21st World Cup and the match between the Saudi national team and its Russian counterpart, and to issue a directive from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince visited the Republic of Russia in June 2018. Federal.

On the other hand, high-level Russian visits to the Kingdom continued to consolidate and enhance relations, for the benefit of the two friendly peoples, including the official visit of President Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, to the Kingdom in October 2019, where the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, held an official discussion session with him. , in the presence of His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation signed the Charter of Cooperation and Exchange of Agreements, which aims to develop many economic and developmental fields, including: the petroleum industry, other energy sectors, scientific research, space, justice, health services, tax administration, mineral wealth, tourism, and the aviation industry. , cultural cooperation, enhancing trade relations, and other sectors.

The Kingdom supports efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis, has good relations with both parties to the crisis, and plays the role of mediator between them, through the good relations between the Crown Prince and the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.

The Kingdom took the initiative from the first days of the crisis in Ukraine, as the Crown Prince held contacts with the Russian and Ukrainian leadership and expressed the Kingdom’s readiness to carry out its good offices to contribute to reaching a political solution that leads to lasting peace. It also supported humanitarian initiatives aimed at mitigating the effects of the crisis, including Mediation by His Highness the Crown Prince to release 10 prisoners from several countries.

Out of the Kingdom’s belief that dialogue is the only way to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine, and to reach consensus on the frameworks and mechanisms for this solution, and in continuation of the humanitarian initiatives and efforts made by the Crown Prince, the Kingdom hosted a meeting of national security advisors in a number of brotherly and friendly countries regarding the crisis in Ukraine.

International events confirmed the keenness of the leadership of the two countries to strengthen the existing relations between them on the principle of respect for international laws and sovereignty, in addition to the conformity of bilateral views regarding many complex files at the regional and international levels, including the international economic file, as they are the two poles of the oil economy whose strategic partnership has contributed to the stability of the two countries. Oil prices, and creating a positive trend in the oil market.

The establishment of the Saudi-Russian Joint Committee and the Saudi-Russian Business Council contributed to developing relations between the two countries in various fields, diversifying and expanding the base of economic cooperation, and creating a commercial and investment platform capable of advancing trade exchange by taking advantage of the opportunities provided by Vision 2030 and the major projects launched by the Kingdom.

The volume of trade exchange between the two countries in 2023 was about (12,514.345,134) Saudi riyals, of which non-oil national exports represented (48,525,652) Saudi riyals, and included “aluminium and its products, plastics and their products, various types of base metals, fruits, and organic chemical products.”

While the value of non-oil imports amounted to 12,465.819,482 Saudi riyals, and included “mineral products, grains, meat, edible entrails and limbs, iron and steel, and animal or vegetable grease and oils.”

In confirmation of the Kingdom’s economic status, the Russian Federation supported the initiative to invite the Kingdom to join the BRICS economic bloc alongside “the Russian Federation, China, Brazil, India and South Africa.” Russian President Putin stressed that his country’s support comes in appreciation of the Crown Prince’s efforts to support balance and stability in the markets. Oil, and its ability to achieve the Kingdom’s ambitious development plans.

The Kingdom’s efforts contributed to the OPEC countries and the Russian Federation reaching the historic (OPEC+) agreement that supports the stability of oil markets, by adopting a methodology to align the volume of production with the level of global demand for oil, in a way that serves producers and consumers, which reflected positively on the stability of global energy prices. It enhanced the pace of bilateral contacts between Riyadh and Moscow at the leadership level in the two countries.

The issue of terrorism and extremism gained the attention of the leadership of the two countries, and they agreed together to stand against terrorism and dry up its sources because of its danger to global security and the economy.

Cooperation between Saudi and Russian scientific bodies yielded positive results that benefited the Kingdom, as King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology announced in 2014 the successful launch of its thirteenth Saudi satellite, and the first of the new generation, which bore the name (Saudi Sat 4) from the Russian Yazhny base.

The launch of (Saudi Sat 4) represents a special importance to the Kingdom, as it is the first of the new generation of Saudi satellites designed to be compatible with various space missions that meet the needs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through its national satellite program in the City of Science and Technology, such as space imaging and transmitting data that the Kingdom needs. In addition to conducting scientific experiments in space.

Saudi-Russian relations are not limited to the economic and political aspects only, but go beyond them to include the cultural, media and sports aspects. Russian interest in Arab culture emerged in the seventeenth century, when the first translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an appeared, according to the Scientific Research Magazine issued by the General Presidency for Scientific Research and Fatwa. Currently located in the Russian city of Petragrad (Leningrad).

The King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Noble Qur’an in Medina printed a modern copy of the translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an in the Russian language in 1433 AH, within the framework of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s interest in disseminating the Noble Qur’an and its sciences in various languages, to make it easier for Muslims to be able to read it and contemplate its sublime meanings.

A symposium entitled “Prospects for Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation between the Kingdom and Russia” was held in the Russian capital, Moscow, in October 2017, as part of the program of activities of the Saudi Cultural Week in Russia.

In the context of the importance of Saudi-Russian relations, at the end of 2015 AD, the Saudi Press Agency launched a new news service through its official website, which broadcasts the news of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Russian language in order to inform the friendly Russian people of everything related to the Kingdom of local and international news and events supported by various photographs. .

In 2016, SPA sought to translate the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 into the Russian language in order to provide the Russian side with an opportunity. To read the contents of the vision in their language and know its development dimensions, which serve as a long-term economic map for the future of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in exchange for the development programs it carries that contribute to moving the Kingdom from a world of dependence on the oil source to a world of multiple sources of the national economy.

The current visit of the Russian President to the Kingdom comes as an extension of the Crown Prince’s efforts to communicate with influential international parties with the aim of coordinating joint international action aimed at stopping military operations in Gaza, where the Crown Prince participated in the extraordinary meeting of the leaders of the BRICS group, during which he reviewed the decisions of the joint Arab-Islamic Summit that were not approved. Regular.

The importance of the Russian President’s visit lies in the fact that it comes after the Kingdom chaired the “Extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit,” which the Kingdom hosted on 11/11/2023 AD, based on the great interest the leadership attaches to the Palestinian issue, and the Crown Prince chaired its work, as the summit demanded an immediate cessation. For military operations in Gaza, protecting civilians and delivering humanitarian aid to those affected.