Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 6 OctOber 2017
Putin and Saudi king turn the page on decades of tensions

to expand relations with city.
“friendly nation” Russia “in Salman’s visit comes after
the interests of peace, se- decades of tensions, most
curity and development of recently over the war in
the world economy.” Syria, where Saudi Arabia
The Saudi monarch noted had backed the Sunni reb-
that the two nations agree els fighting to oust Presi-
on many international and dent Bashar Assad, while
regional issues and intend its arch-rival, Shiite power-
to continue their efforts to house Iran, had teamed
shore up global oil prices. with Russia to shore up his
Following the talks, Saudi rule.
Arabian Military Indus- Analysts see Salman’s trip to
tries (SAMI) said it signed Moscow, which follows oth-
agreements with Russia’s er visits by Gulf royals, as the
state arms trader, Rosobo- clearest sign yet that Rus-
ronexport, for the purchase sia’s high-risk gamble in Syr-
of cutting-edge Russian ia has paid off.“A number
weapons, including the of Gulf leaders have been
long-range S-400 air de- going with greater regular-
fense missile systems. ity to Moscow and I think
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Saudi King Salman listen to national anthems during In line with Saudi Arabia’s for a simple reason: Russia
their meeting in Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Saudi King Salman arrived in intention to localize weap- has made itself much more
Moscow Wednesday on the first ever visit by a Saudi monarch to Russia. ons production, the deals of a factor in key parts of
(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) envisage the transfer of the Middle East as the U.S.
By V. ISACHENKOV sian President Vladimir Pu- its military blitz in Syria. And technology for the local has taken a step back in
AYA BATRAWY tin mark a thaw in relations it shows the Saudis’ interest production of Russian Ko- some ways, particularly in
Associated Press between the countries, in keeping Russia signed up rnet-EM anti-tank missiles, Syria,” said Brian Katulis, a
MOSCOW (AP) — In a major which have often been to a global deal to limit oil TOS-1A rocket launchers senior fellow at the Center
break with decades of ri- tense since the Cold War production and push up and AGS-30 automatic for American Progress.Sau-
valry, Russia and Saudi Ara- times when the kingdom the price of their valuable grenade launchers and di-U.S. ties grew strained
bia on Friday struck a slew supported of Afghan rebels crude exports. the latest version of the Ka- under the Obama admin-
of deals, including con- fighting the Soviet invasion Hosting the Saudi king in lashnikov assault rifle. istration over its backing of
tracts for Russian weapons in the 1980s. the ornate Kremlin interi- While the U.S. has remained a nuclear agreement with
as part of a groundbreak- Observers say that Riyadh’s ors, Putin hailed his visit as a Saudi Arabia’s top weap- Iran and its cautious stance
ing first visit by a Saudi mon- decision to boost ties with “landmark event” that will ons supplier and its most on the Syrian conflict. Rela-
arch. Moscow reflects the ex- give a “strong impulse” to critical Western ally, Thurs- tions improved under the
The Kremlin talks between panded clout Russia has bilateral ties. day’s deals highlighted Ri- Trump administration, but
Saudi King Salman and Rus- won in the Middle East with Salman said he was looking yadh’s intention to expand Washington’s focus in Syria
ties with Russia. continues to be on fight-
The Saudis have also been ing the Islamic State group,
eyeing Russian nuclear not on ousting Assad.Anna
power technologies and Borshchevskaya, a fellow
appear ready to expand at The Washington Institute
food imports from Russia, for Near East Policy, says
which is set to remain the that even though Moscow
world’s biggest wheat ex- has no capacity to replace
porter this year. Food se- Washington, “it’s clear
curity is a major concern that Russia has been able
for Saudi Arabia, which to play a weak hand very
stopped local produc- well and step into vacuums
tion of livestock feed and everywhere where the U.S.
wheat due to water scar- has retreated.” q
AP: Venezuela’s Maduro visits
Belarus, discusses military ties

MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Ven- ately known.
ezuelan President Nicolas Lukashenko said that Be-
Maduro has visited Belarus, larus would like to develop
emphasizing plans to bol- cooperation with Venezu-
ster military ties with the ex- ela in energy, agriculture
Soviet nation. and construction.
Speaking at the start of Belarus, Russia’s neighbor
Thursday’s talks with Belaru- and ally, has exported
sian President Alexander wheat, fertilizers and medi-
Lukashenko, Maduro said cines to Venezuela.
that “cooperation in the Maduro’s visit to Belarus
military sphere has been comes a day after his trip
very successful and we to Russia, where he met
need to expand it.” with President Vladimir Pu-
Maduro didn’t elaborate tin and thanked him for po-
and details of military co- litical and diplomatic sup-
operation aren’t immedi- port. q