Why Riyadh is building bridges between the US and Russia

The initial contacts with the new US administration inspired certain hope, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting of the Russian Federal Security Service board on Feb. 27. He emphasized that “Russia and the US are ready to resume cooperation,” adding that “the current US partners demonstrate pragmatism and a realistic view of things, moving beyond stereotypes.”
Putin’s positive stance would not have occurred without a meeting held between the Russian and US delegations earlier the same month in Riyadh.
The meeting was overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who entrusted the task to two key figures in the Saudi government: Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Adviser Minister Musaed Al-Aiban. Both officials have extensive diplomatic experience and a significant ability to build bridges between different parties — important skills that led to Putin and US leader Donald Trump praising the initial results of the dialogue in the Saudi capital.
Despite the strong strategic relations between Saudi Arabia and the US, Riyadh has adopted a flexible diplomacy in recent years, during which it diversified its foreign choices. For instance, it built partnerships with influential countries, such as China, Russia, and India; strengthened its relations with the EU; and became more open to regional neighbors, specifically Iran, restoring diplomatic relations with the latter following the agreement in Beijing in March 2023.
Saudi Arabia recognizes the importance of the US as a significant economic, political, technological, and military force. There are also mutual commercial interests, and diplomatic relations spanning nearly a century. Moreover, Washington considers Riyadh a fundamental partner in combating terrorism and, therefore, both countries have been keen to strengthen relations and manage any differing views without clashing or causing rupture. This was especially true during the tenures of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, when points of disagreement emerged between both countries, whether regarding the Iranian nuclear agreement, the Yemen war, or the Israeli aggression against Gaza, as well as other energy and human rights issues.
The Kingdom worked to address this policy divergence calmly, communicating with different institutions in the US. Riyadh also strengthened its relations with Beijing and Moscow, increasing volumes of trade. Furthermore, there was a clear Saudi-Russian coordination at OPEC+ to maintain energy prices at reasonable levels, benefiting both producing and consuming countries.
This political and economic balance — coupled with patience and Riyadh’s efforts to develop state institutions, diversify its economy and modernize society, along with its active diplomacy in reducing tensions with Iran and the Houthis in Yemen, supporting the central state in Iraq, dealing realistically with the new government in the Syrian Arab Republic, and playing active roles during the Israeli war against Gaza and Lebanon — has elevated its international position and reputation as a central state capable of promoting peace and reducing conflicts.

The Kingdom has emerged as a major player in restoring relations between the US and Russia, earning the respect and trust of both sides. 

Hassan Al-Mustafa

Additionally, Saudi Arabia worked on condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, launching a relief air bridge to the Ukrainian people. It also received President Volodymyr Zelensky, held a peace conference aiming to stop the war, and brokered the release of a group of prisoners in both countries, without adopting a hostile stance toward Moscow or siding with NATO’s escalatory policies against Russia. This earned Saudi Arabia special respect from Putin.
At the American level, the Saudi government worked to smooth things over with the administration of former President Biden, who visited Riyadh and was received by King Salman and the crown prince. At the same time, Riyadh avoided cutting ties with Trump after he left the White House. Instead, both sides maintained relations of mutual respect. As a result, when Trump returned to the presidency, Riyadh was among the first to congratulate him, prompting the new president to choose Saudi Arabia as a friendly and trusted country in which to hold the first meetings between the US and Russian delegations.
During the opening session of the Saudi Future Investment Initiative in its third edition in Miami, Trump said: “Saudi Arabia is a great country with great leadership.” He thanked the Kingdom for hosting talks between Russian and US officials, adding that “Riyadh did a great job by hosting these talks.”
For his part, Putin called the crown prince and thanked Saudi Arabia “for hosting the fruitful talks between Moscow and Washington.” The crown prince affirmed his country’s commitment to “exerting all possible efforts to enhance global security and peace, believing that dialogue is the only way to resolve all international crises.”
In this context, the official visit of Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to the US can be highlighted, as he met with his US counterpart Peter Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to discuss “regional and international developments, and the efforts exerted to achieve security and stability.” According to the US Department of State, both sides explored “ways to strengthen peace in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza.”
Prince Khalid wrote on X: “Pleased to meet my friend (US National Security Adviser) Michael Waltz. We reviewed the Saudi-US strategic relationship and explored opportunities to strengthen our bilateral cooperation.”
All these cumulative diplomatic efforts over the years have qualified Saudi Arabia to be a major player in restoring relationships between the US and Russia, earning the respect and trust of both sides. Through this mission, Riyadh is seeking an end to the war in Ukraine, to strengthen mutual understanding and solve the crises in the Middle East, and to encourage Russia and the US to actively participate in the process of achieving permanent and comprehensive peace in the region.

• Hassan Al-Mustafa is a Saudi writer and researcher interested in Islamic movements, the development of religious discourse and the relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Iran. X: @Halmustafa