MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that Russia will host a special Russian-Arab summit later this year.
Putin made the announcement during a meeting with the Omani sultan, Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said, at the Kremlin. This is the first-ever state visit of the Arab country’s sultan to Russia.
“We plan to hold a summit between Russia and Arab countries later this year,” Putin said.
“Many of our friends in the Arab world support this idea,” he added, inviting bin Tariq to the summit, without specifying the date and location.
The Russian leader highlighted that 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Oman.
“We share a strong history, and our contacts continue to develop. We have prepared for your visit across all sectors,” Putin said.
Sultan Haitham, in his remarks, expressed his country’s desire to strengthen ties with Russia for the mutual benefit of both nations.
“We seek to build privileged and mutually beneficial relations with Russia in the interests of our peoples,” he said.
The Sultan’s visit followed a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in Moscow, where the two leaders discussed the situations in Syria and Gaza.
Qatar continues to play a crucial role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas.
Gulf states are increasingly emerging as influential diplomatic players in efforts to resolve some of the world’s most urgent conflicts, including those in Ukraine and Gaza, which have resulted in the loss of thousands of lives.
Oman has also stepped into a significant mediating role, recently hosting high-level talks between the United States and Iran, the most senior engagement between the two nations since the former US.
President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement during his first term.
Russia and Ukraine also held indirect talks mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia in the Saudi capital Riyadh in March.
