As Moscow reorients its commercial and political ties away from the West toward the Global South, its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have grown significantly.

Over the past few months, Russia has expanded its engagement with the oil- and gas-rich Arab nations of the GCC.

This trend demonstrates the resilience of Russia’s influence across the Middle East, especially in the face of Moscow losing its major ally, the Assad dynasty in Syria, following the fall of Baath regime in December 2024.

Then there’s the weakening of Iran, exacerbated by its confrontations with Israel and the United States, which has further complicated Moscow’s regional position.

Russia’s closer ties with the GCC are evident in its deepening relations with Oman. In April, the two countries signed an agreement to establish a visa-free programme.

The meeting in Moscow also marked the first-ever talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, a historic milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries.

In the same month, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Moscow, where he met with President Putin to discuss bilateral economic relations and regional geopolitical developments.

Relations between Russia and Qatar are grounded not only in pragmatic foreign policy considerations but also in shared perspectives on key global issues. As a major global energy hub, Qatar increasingly shapes its own agenda, balancing the........

© TRT World