Saudi Arabia meets Russia on Oil, Investment and Syria

Foreign News

Saudi Arabia's King Salman

The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's biggest oil exporters, are expected to discuss cooperation on oil production and differences over Syria and Iran on Thursday during the first visit to Moscow by a reigning Saudi Monarch.

A slew of investment deals, including on a liquefied natural gas project and petrochemical plants, could also be signed during King Salman's trip and plans for a $1-billion fund to invest in energy projects are likely to be finalised.

The visit, including talks in the Kremlin with President Vladimir Putin, reflects a rapid deepening of ties between Russia and Saudi Arabia, driven by a mutual need to stem a drop in global oil prices.

The two countries helped secure a deal between OPEC and other producers to cut output until the end of March 2018, but back competing sides in Syria's civil war.

Riyadh supports rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces while Russian troops and Iranian militias have sided with Assad. This leaves Moscow aligned with Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran, whose influence Riyadh fears is growing in the region.

"The Saudis want help on Iran, and Russia wants trade and investment," said Mark N. Katz, an expert on Russia-Middle East relations at George Mason University. "In the Saudi mind, they're definitely linked and the Russians are going to try to separate these."

Billboards have been erected on the road from the airport to central Moscow welcoming King Salman in Arabic and Russian.

Muhammad Bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince

His son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, visited in May just before his elevation to crown prince, and in 2015 the countries' sovereign wealth funds agreed to $10 billion in investments.

Credit: Reuters

Comments

Olamide's Latest Album LAGOS NAWA free Download (zip file)

Entertainment. Olamide's latest 7th studio album, LAGOS NAWA was released on 17th of November 2017. The album has 17 tracks and produced by @youngjohn except for track 7 which was produced by @baddohsneh. The new album features his potential hit track “WO!” and other 16 tracks. The album attracted features from Phyno, Tiwa Savage, Reminisce and Timaya. Download the full album below. Download Olamide Lagos Nawa album zip

The Conjoined Twins separated by Ben Carson are grown Men now

People & Events. Patrick and Benjamin Binder, the German born conjoined twins that were separated by the world famous surgeon, Ben Carson in 1987 are now grown men. Ben Carson The twins were born in February 2, 1987 in Germany. They were joined at the head and separated at Johns Hopkins Hospital on September 7, 1987. They were the first twins to be successfully separated by neurosurgeon Ben Carson, of Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Wizkid and Davido in bloody Fight at the One Africa Music Festival

Entertainment. Wizkid and Davido online supremacy beef has turned physical violence as the two stars clashed at the One Africa Music Festival held in Dubai on Thursday night. According to a report, Davido was scheduled to perform before Wizkid at the event but the Starboy boss jumped on stage while Tiwa Savage was performing without being announced. Davido repeated the same act by appearing on stage before his time of performance and reappeared on stage again when Sarkodie was supposed to perform. Davido's appearance twice on stage that night did not sit well with Wizzy. Wizkid initiated the fight by punching one of the 30 billion gang and a retaliation followed. The two camps engaged in a dirty fight backstage which led to the inability of some artist to perform that night. Related post: Sarkodie caught between Davido and Wizkid's Fight

Search This Blog