TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman or Prince MBS made a telephone call on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The conversation was made after the visit of the Secretary of State of the United States of America Anthony Blinken to Riyadh, Arab Saudiearly yesterday morning.
During the talks, Putin and Prince MBS discussed cooperation in the context of the OPEC+ group of oil producers. “The topic of conversation ensuring stability in the world energy market was discussed in detail,” according to a Kremlin statement on the messaging application Telegram, Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
“Both sides commended the cooperation within the framework of OPEC+ for enabling timely and effective implementation of measures to ensure a balance between oil supply and demand.”
The statement noted the importance of the agreement reached at the group’s meeting this week. Saudi Arabia will make major cuts to oil production in July on top of a broader OPEC+ deal to limit supply until 2024.
Putin and Prince MBS also touched on improving trade and economic relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia, implementation of perspective joint projects in investment, transport logistics and energy. In addition, the two sides reviewed the issue of stability in global energy markets.
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The two leaders also discussed various aspects of Russian-Saudi cooperation in other multilateral organizations and agreed to continue contacts at various levels. Putin and Prince MBS last had a phone call on April 21, 2023.
Just hours before the call, the US secretary of state visited Saudi Arabia. Blinken came on Tuesday evening and had a meeting with Prince MBS in the early hours of Wednesday, 7 June 2023, regarding various bilateral issues.
The top US diplomat arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night for a much-anticipated visit amid strained relations due to deepening disputes over everything from Iran policy to regional security issues, oil prices and human rights.
Blinken’s visit comes days after top crude exporter Saudi Arabia vowed to expand oil production cuts above the deal OPEC+ to limit supply, as it seeks to boost flagging oil prices despite opposition from the US administration. Blinken and the crown prince met for one hour and 40 minutes, a US official said, discussing topics including Israel, the conflict in Yemen, unrest in Sudan and human rights.
REUTERS | TASS
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