Shocker. Despotic regimes with no respect for human rights collaborating. 

Why would the Saudis care about Russia, which has been propping up the Alawite govt of Syria, an ally of Iran.

I think it's more about this. This is from an article published in April this year.

 

Saudi Arabia targets a more Republican Washington

Rather than push for an immediate improvement of strained relations with the United States, Saudi Arabia appears to be looking forward to a time when US President Joe Biden’s wings may be clipped.

The kingdom seems to be betting on a better reception in Washington if Democrats lose control of Congress in this year’s midterm elections and/or Donald J. Trump or a Republican candidate with similar inclinations wins the White House in the 2024 presidential election.

The Saudi approach signals that the kingdom has not given up on the United States, although it has lost faith in Mr. Biden because of his attitude towards Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his efforts to revive a nuclear accord with Iran.

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/04/23/saudi-arabia-targets-a-more-republican-washington/

 

 

The article goes on to report on how the Crown Prince order the Saudi Private Investment Fund to invest 2 billion dollars in a fund headed by a former high official in the previous adminstration despite a strong warning from people who administer PIF that the fund was unit for many reason.

Putin and the prince: fears in west as Russia and Saudi Arabia deepen ties

 

Nearly eight months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, relations between Riyadh and Moscow are at a high point. As much of Europe, the US and the UK double down on attempts to combat an ever more menacing Russian leader, Prince Mohammed has instead chosen to deepen ties.

 

“Putin sees this as new world order stuff, and thinks he can bring MBS along with him,” said the British official. “The Saudis sit on a very powerful asset in oil, which still has a strategic role to play. Don’t write off carbon as a political tool for decades. MBS knows the optics of being seen to help out Putin, but he doesn’t care. Neither are progressive liberals. They see leadership through the same lens.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/05/putin-mohammed-bin-salman-russia-saudi-arabia-deepen-ties

30 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Putin and the prince: fears in west as Russia and Saudi Arabia deepen ties

 

Nearly eight months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, relations between Riyadh and Moscow are at a high point. As much of Europe, the US and the UK double down on attempts to combat an ever more menacing Russian leader, Prince Mohammed has instead chosen to deepen ties.

 

“Putin sees this as new world order stuff, and thinks he can bring MBS along with him,” said the British official. “The Saudis sit on a very powerful asset in oil, which still has a strategic role to play. Don’t write off carbon as a political tool for decades. MBS knows the optics of being seen to help out Putin, but he doesn’t care. Neither are progressive liberals. They see leadership through the same lens.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/05/putin-mohammed-bin-salman-russia-saudi-arabia-deepen-ties

I don't see anything particularly convincing in this article about their current alliance, if it can be called that, that has anything more to it than a coincidence of interests re fossil fuels. Neither country has much much to offer the other economically They are both nations whose economies depend to a large extent on extractive industries. I doubt Saudi Arabia is going to have much interest in Russian arms exports and Saudi industry (is there such a thing?) has even less to offer the Russians.

4 hours ago, placeholder said:

I don't see anything particularly convincing in this article about their current alliance, if it can be called that, that has anything more to it than a coincidence of interests re fossil fuels. Neither country has much much to offer the other economically They are both nations whose economies depend to a large extent on extractive industries. I doubt Saudi Arabia is going to have much interest in Russian arms exports and Saudi industry (is there such a thing?) has even less to offer the Russians.

There is indeed a Saudi industry, and I have visited many of the facilities on social club trips.

Totally uneconomic as would be cheaper to simply import the finished products, but it provided places for Saudis to "manage" while imported labour did all the work.

They had massive dairy "farms" and factories that provided all the dairy products needed.

Perhaps the most interesting was the solar research facility.

 

Don't forget the vast oil industry on Saudi soil, aircraft and military maintenance/ repair facilities and such as the airline/ airports etc. Even the desalination facilities and the pipelines transporting water to Riyadh could be described as an "industry". They even have a tourist industry.

Biden caught on hot mic in FL saying "no one <deleted> with a BIDEN"   (except KSA)

Biden, your American savior!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/saudi-arabia-lowers-oil-prices-for-europe-but-raises-them-again-for-the-us-as-white-house-says-opec-2b-is-siding-with-russia/ar-AA12Ftoj

 

forget it Joe, the world is laughing at you as they pass by you.

Edited October 8, 20223 yr by bocaBob