Saudi Crown Prince to meet Russia's Putin in Moscow

Saudi Crown Prince to meet Russia's Putin in Moscow
Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.
2 min read
30 May, 2017
Putin and bin Salman last met in China at the G20 summit. [Getty]

Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

The talks are likely to discuss the Syrian war, while four cooperation agreements are expected to be signed.

Earlier in the day, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak met his Saudi counterpart Khalid al-Falih to discuss global oil markets.

Despite backing opposing sides in Syria's brutal civil conflict, Russia and Saudi Arabia cooperate closely as major global exporters of oil.

Both leaders were instrumental in the success of a 2016 global deal which saw oil production curtailed by 1.8 million barrels a day.

Last week, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to extend the landmark agreement as part of efforts to prop up prices and reduce bloated inventories.

Putin and bin Salman last met in China on the side-lines of the G20 summit.

The Saudi Crown Prince's visit to Moscow comes a week after US President Donald Trump's inaugural overseas visit to the country.

During the visit, Washington agreed to sell weapons and services to Riyadh in one of the "biggest single arms deals" in US history, as the two countries marked a new chapter in their relationship.

Sources confirmed to The New Arab that the deal will stretch past the $350 billion mark over the coming ten years, while other agreements were signed on increased economic cooperation.