Putin & Mohammed bin Salman Share a Unlikely High‑Five at the G20
In a moment that felt almost like a movie set, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave each other a high‑five and burst into hearty laughter right after taking their seats at a Buenos Aires G20 plenary session.
Why It Stood Out
- The prince and the Russian leader’s friendly exchange was a stark contrast to the usual stiff, diplomatic banter you’d expect at a summit.
- While other nations were looking on, the duo seemed to be each other’s only ally—at least for the brief moment onstage.
- This friendly vibe sent shockwaves to observers, especially given the swirling rumors around President Putin’s alleged involvement in the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Saudi Arabia’s Position
Saudi officials insist that Mohammed bin Salman had no prior knowledge of Khashoggi’s death. However, the tragedy only further strained Saudi Arabia’s ties with the United States, other Western powers, and Turkey.
Backstage Drama
During the official “family photo” of world leaders, the Crown Prince was noticeably sidelined—just a shadow in the background. After the photo, Mohammed didn’t even stop to shake hands or chat with the other heads of state. He simply walked off the stage, leaving a lot of people guessing what was truly going on behind those polite smiles.
For now, the high‑five remains one of the oddball highlights from the G20 summit—proof that even in the world of corded diplomacy, a quick, honest moment of camaraderie can make headlines.
Russia’s Diplomatic Tightrope: Walking Between Saudi Arabia, Iran, and a Quarrel Over an Unspecified Killing
Picture this: a stingy diplomatic email from Moscow directing Putin to keep mum about a recent murder that apparently rattled Riyadh. Instead of firing off scathing letters, the Russian leader says he’s “missing the details” and is staying cool, promising the Kremlin will keep its friendship with Saudi Arabia firmly intact.
Two Bilateral Deals, One Forgotten Ordeal
In private, a shiny record from the Kremlin reveals that Vladimir Putin and Prince Mohammed are due to rendezvous this Saturday for a high‑level chat. Apparently, both are busy balancing a game of geopolitical chess where a single move could change the whole board.
Why is Russia Low‑Key About Saudi?
- In October, the Russian president admitted he lacked “genuine evidence” around the killing.
- He promised that no “hostile fallout” would break ties between his country and Saudi Arabia.
Co‑conspirators Across the Middle‑East
While Russia keeps quiet on the Saudi side, it’s forging a strong bond with Iran – a country that sits at Saudi Arabia’s other end of the world political spectrum.
- Russia & Iran both support Syrian President Bashar al‑Assad in his civil war.
- Saudi and the West have picked up the plugs for rebel groups, trying to stir a different birthing‑ground for power.
OPEC’s Ice‑Brewed Oil Market – “We’ll Cut, We’ll Scale”
In the last ravish of the pandemic‑blown oil market, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are fixing for a meeting in Vienna on Dec 6‑7.
- It’s a private gathering of oil giants: Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States and others.
- Topic? How to stop prices from sinking deeper as the oil surplus swells like a hungry pirate’s belly.
Bankroll – A One‑Million‑Barrel‑Per‑Day Ban on Exports
Riyadh is riding the wave, pushing OPEC and its allies to trump the market by “reducing output by 1 million barrels per day from January 2019” – an attempt to pull prices up the scale.
