Russia starts discussions on military cooperation with Saudi Arabia, despite Yemeni war

YemenExtra

M.A.

Arms deal between Saudi Arabia and the USA will not influence military and technical cooperation of Riyadh and Moscow, as a number of contracts is currently being discussed, head of Federal service on military-technical cooperation (FSMTC), Dmitry Shugaev, told Interfax agency.

“Saudi Arabia is indeed interested in the development of military-technical cooperation with Russia. A number of contract documents are being discussed, work is in progress on determining possible level of technologic cooperation and directions of such cooperation,” he stated.

“Agreement between Saudi Arabia and the USA, or any other NATO member, will not affect our willingness to collaborate on mutually beneficial terms,” he pointed out.

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. signed an arms deal worth $350 billion over 10 years during the official visit of president Donald Trump to the Saudi Kingdom in May.

Many activists and humanitarian organizations warned of anymore weapon deals with Saudi Arabia due to approved war crimes being committed in impoverished Yemen, which have resulted in more than 30,000 killed and wounded civilians.

Kremlin did not comment on this record deal, saying that “Moscow develops its relations with Riyadh”.

One of the potential contracts that are being discussed between Russia and Saudi Arabia might be delivery of T-90MS battle tanks to the Gulf kingdom. Various media wings and analysts speculated about possibility of such an agreement in the beginning of this year.