Russia, Saudi Arabia energy partners, not rivals – Putin

ER-RIYADH, February 12 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s president said on the second day of his landmark visit to Saudi Arabia that the two countries, the world’s top oil producers, were partners rather than rivals in the energy sector.

Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, which has substantial clout in Islamic countries, is significant because it is the first visit by a Russian leader to the Arab nation, considering the two countries maintained no diplomatic relations for some 60 years.


“On the face of it, … it seems that we are rivals, but considering the world’s growing demand for energy, that is not so,” Putin said at a meeting with Russian and Saudi businessmen.

“Russia and Saudi Arabia are the world’s leading energy producers and exporters, and here it is easy for us to find common ground,” the Russian leader said, adding that two Russian energy companies, privately owned LUKoil and Stroitransgaz – a construction arm of energy giant Gazprom, were already operating on the Saudi market.

Ria Novosti