President Vladimir Putin reconnects with a strong international image in front of Westerners

During a lavish tour of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Vladimir Putin appeared to taunt the West who wanted him alone and isolated on the international stage. On Thursday, the Russian president received another tactical ally, the Iranian president, at the Kremlin.

The next presidential election in Russia will take place on March 17, 2024 and, although he is not yet officially a candidate, Vladimir Putin has no intention of giving up power. The Kremlin boss is feeling strong at the moment and, for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine, he has embarked on a major diplomatic tour. By being received with pomp in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the Russian president showed himself to be connected to rich and politically strong men, while breaking the image of a leader isolated by the West.

Arab countries and “unprecedented” trade

Vladimir Putin is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, the ICC, for the deportation of Ukrainian children, which exposes him to arrest if he goes to one of the 135 countries signatory to the ICC charter. But he authorized himself on Wednesday December 6, in the middle of COP28, a visit to the United Arab Emirates, followed by a three-hour interview in Riyadh with the strong man of the Saudi kingdom, Mohammed ben Salmane, known as “MBS”. In Abu Dhabi as in Riyadh, he was treated to a sumptuous ceremonial welcome, including an air patrol broadcasting smoke bombs in the color of Russia into the UAE sky.

In the images of the interviews with the Gulf emirs, we saw him smiling, relaxed and certainly not unhappy with taunting Western countries. We can indeed speak of a snub for the Americans and Europeans, who have traditionally been strategic partners for the Emirates and Saudi Arabia for decades. Today, these states are no longer aligned with the Western diplomatic agenda. Riyadh, like Abu Dhabi, does not apply the economic and financial sanctions that hit Russia. It’s even the opposite, they want to develop their “business” with Moscow in all areas. Vladimir Putin was even delighted with the level “unprecedented” of trade between his country and the Emirates, with 9 billion dollars in 2022, an increase of 68% compared to the previous year. Saudi Arabia has promised to invest around $10 billion in Russia in the coming years, and the two countries have decided to cooperate within OPEC+, the cartel of oil-producing countries, with the aim of optimize crude prices according to their respective interests.

Iran, the West’s other pariah

After this mini-tour abroad, Vladimir Putin received Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi in Moscow on Thursday, December 7. Iran is also under international sanctions and continues to develop its nuclear and ballistic program. And he has moved even closer to the Russians since the war in Ukraine. The two pariah countries for Westerners do not hide their desire to strengthen their economic partnership, in particular with the commercial corridor project between Saint Petersburg and the Islamic Republic, via the Caspian Sea. Moreover, by delivering drones, Iran gave a serious boost to the Russian army on the Ukrainian front.

By speaking with his Iranian counterpart, Vladimir Putin was able to gauge Iranian intentions in the Middle East, particularly in the war in Gaza, Tehran being one of the main supporters of Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.