http://lobelog.com/is-saudi-arabia-really-inviting-russia-to-play-a-bigger-role-in-the-middle-east/#more-35297

Is Saudi Arabia Really Inviting Russia to Play a Bigger Role in the Middle East?

by Mark N. Katz
Much attention was generated by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir’s interview with politico.eu. The minister appeared to offer Russia an economic lifeline from Western sanctions through economic access to the Gulf Cooperation Council—the grouping of the six Arab Gulf monarchies, most of which have large oil reserves—and “a pool of investment that exceeds that of China.”
Al-Jubeir followed this up with a recent statement about how the kingdom wants to “build the best relations with Russia in a number of joint cooperation fields.” He further noted that “a number of agreements” have already been signed between the two countries, their differences over Syria would not affect their joint cooperation elsewhere, and the gap in their viewpoints over Syria is narrowing.http://lobelog.com/is-saudi-arabia-really-inviting-russia-to-play-a-bigger-role-in-the-middle-east/#more-35297