King Salman’s visit to Russia, which began on Wednesday evening, is the first by a Saudi monarch. Although the two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1926, when the former Soviet Union recognized what was then the Kingdom of Hijaz and Najd, policy differences and regional and international circumstances made such a visit impracticable in the past.

Beyond symbolism, King Salman’s visit promises to be a game changer, considering how engaged the two countries have been of late. High-profile visits to Russia by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman paved the way for this royal visit. Officials from both sides have also engaged on oil, trade, investment and regional crises.

King Salman’s visit comes 10 years after President Vladimir Putin visited Saudi Arabia in February 2007. There were high hopes then that the two countries could forge a solid, mutually beneficial relationship. Another shift came in November 2011 in Abu Dhabi. With support from Saudi Arabia, the UAE hosted the first GCC-Russia Strategic Dialogue. Their foreign ministers issued a promising joint statement that indicated closer views on regional issues, including Syria.

Russia presented its views on Gulf security at that meeting, but as they failed to get traction, the Russians proposed a dialogue to jointly develop the concept, while exploring all possible areas of overlapping interests. The two sides found that there was a realistic potential for forging a strategic relationship that could extend beyond politics and security. Trade, energy, investment, technology and inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue were among areas they found to be of interest. They agreed on fighting terrorism and extremism, despite some differences of opinion over priorities.

Russia and the Gulf states were far from agreeing on all issues, but a synthesis was emerging and dialogue appeared more promising than ever. Public pronouncements at the time reflected that meeting of minds.

Hard-nosed realism and potentially tangible interests drove the new relationship. While the combined GDP of Russia and the GCC exceeded $3 trillion, two-way trade was less than $3 billion, almost negligible considering the size of GCC and Russian economies. Investment was still limited, despite significant potential and the presence of a few, high-visibility partnerships. Despite those realities, the sky was the limit for dreams, especially on the Russian side, of exploiting the tantalizing potential.

However, the two sides drifted apart over the Syrian conflict and it was not until 2015 that they resumed meaningful dialogue. Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Russia in June 2015 was followed by a flurry of activity by a number of GCC and Russian officials, including high-profile state visits.

In May 2016, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir led the GCC delegation to the GCC-Russia strategic dialogue, the first time it had taken place in Russia. It was also the first full-fledged strategic dialogue between the foreign ministers since the first one in Abu Dhabi in 2011.

Despite differences on regional issues, there appeared to be an opening to resume discussions on wider cooperation and dialogue to narrow them.

Saudi Arabia and Russia have been cautiously exploring their shared interests for many years, but the arrival of King Salman in Moscow promises to be a game changer. 

Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg

On Syria, the two sides are in agreement on the need for a prompt end to the crisis, based on the Geneva Communique of June 2012 and UN Security Council Resolutions 2254 and 2268, which translate into a full-fledged transitional authority. Russia now also agrees to distinguish between moderate opposition and terrorist groups such as Daesh and Al-Nusra Front.

On Iran, there has some been progress as well. In a hint at Iran’s meddling and destabilizing activities in the region, Russia agreed that GCC-Iran relations must be “be based on the principles of good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as resolutions of disputes through peaceful means, according to the UN Charter and international law, and renouncing of and refraining from the use or threat of use of force or provocations that might undermine confidence and threaten security and stability in the region.” Iran flouts these principles almost daily.

Russia also supports the GCC in its call for a peaceful solution between Iran and the UAE over the three islands, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, including direct negotiations between the two parties.

Russia and the GCC have similar positions on Yemen and Iraq, but certainly differences remain on a number of other issues.

Russia is keen to improve its image in the Muslim world and has organized conferences for Muslim-Russia dialogue, including activities carried out by the Russian “Group of Strategic Vision.”

Besides active political dialogue on regional and international issues, Russia, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries have agreed to “create a favorable climate” for greater trade and business partnerships in industry, transport, communications, agriculture and tourism, and health care, education and scientific research. They have also continued energy cooperation, in both oil policy and renewable energies.

To map out cooperation in these and other areas in executable programs, the two sides are in discussion over a very ambitious “joint action plan” to be implemented over the next few years. 

King Salman’s visit could be the key to unlock the potential for cooperation with Russia and turn those ambitious plans into reality.

• Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is a columnist for Arab News. He can be reached by e-mail: [email protected]. Twitter: @abuhamad1