Riyadh, allies could try to sway Russia on Syrian conflict - political analyst
MOSCOW. Aug 9 (Interfax) - The recent rise in contacts between Saudi Arabia and Russia is due to Riyadh wanting to swing Moscow's position on the Syrian conflict, says Boris Dolgov, a senior research fellow at the Center for Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Russian Institute of Oriental Studies.
"Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United States standing behind them are hoping for a change in Russia's stance, primarily, on the Syrian conflict. Also featuring here are the Yemeni conflict and the fight against Islamic State (IS)," Dolgov told Interfax, when asked about causes of the increased frequency of interaction between Moscow and Riyadh.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to hold talks with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in Moscow on August 11.
The expert believes that Saudi Arabia could try to reach a deal with Russia. In his view, Riyadh and its allies might offer Russia "some concessions, including over the Ukrainian conflict, and in return get a go-ahead for some actions in Syria."
"Behind-the-scene talks are probably underway, on account of this factor," Dolgov added.
The expert believes that the increased interaction with Saudi Arabia and the countries on the Arabian Peninsula reflects Russia's course towards improving the relations.
"Russia is currently trying to improve relations (with the countries of the Arabian Peninsula) and express its intention, if not for a rapprochement, then at least for a return to the level of relations that existed before the crises started in Syria and Yemen," the expert said.
Dolgov reckons Saudi Arabia's decision to step up its diplomatic relations with Russia was in part due to the U.S. stance on the Syrian crisis settlement process and the Iranian nuclear program.
"Saudi Arabia sees it as a kind of departure by the U.S. from the policy of unconditional support for it in the standoff with Iran. To some extent, this has been a factor in why Saudi Arabia chose the minimal rapprochement with Russia and the intensification of diplomatic efforts. It is a response to U.S. actions," the expert said.
He ruled out a possibility of Moscow and Riyadh creating a joint "military entity or entering into a military agreement." "A military agreement involves a joint military entity - on what basis could it be between Saudi Arabia and Russia? This is quite problematic," the expert said.
Russia's proposal to create a broad anti-terrorist front is unlikely feasible and is "more of an exhortation," he said.
"The countries' positions are too different. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states are part of a bloc which backs the anti-Assad forces in Syria and the anti-Iranian ones in the Yemeni crisis. Uniting them with Iraq and Iran, which are in fact fighting IS in Syria, does not appear possible just yet," Dolgov said.
