Saudi King Salman's visit to Russia "is a historical one" as it shows that "the two parties are ready to open a new era," Hassan Nafaa said.
According to the expert, the Russia-Saudi meeting has a "symbolic" meaning, which demonstrates that Riyadh "is ready for the development of Russia-Saudi relations that for a long time were generally inclined to be hostile."
Moreover, the talks between the leaders of the two countries could contribute to the settlement of the Middle Eastern crisis, the expert argued. Russia and Saudi Arabia are both important players in the ongoing conflict, and thus their diplomatic efforts could ease tensions in the region and create a basis for the resolution of other crises in the Middle East, like those in Yemen and Iraq.
Commenting on a possible US reaction to a potential Saudi-Russia military deal, Nafaa said that the agreement is unlikely to lead to a significant deterioration in Washington-Riyadh ties.
"I think the arms deal with Saudi Arabia could be very important because this will open new strategic opportunities in the relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia. The United States will not be very happy with this, but I think that Saudi Arabia might now diversify its relations with external, foreign powers and will not depend so heavily on the United States," the analyst concluded.
During their talks, King Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a wide range of issues, including the Syrian conflict, the situation in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism. The visit has also resulted in a package of deals between Riyadh and Moscow. These include agreements on military and technical cooperation, as well as the energy and investment fields.
The meeting marks the first ever trip of the reigning Saudi monarch to Russia and is viewed as a landmark event in relations between the two countries.
