Russia, isolated in the international arena and struggling with economic sanctions due to the three-year war against Ukraine, has turned its focus to the Gulf countries, the rich and influential actors of the Middle East, in its search for new economic and military partnerships. This strategic orientation stands out as a reflection of Moscow's efforts to overcome both economic difficulties and diversify military cooperation.
Joint Investment Move from Qatar and Russia
One of the concrete steps in this new quest was the important meeting between the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 17. It was announced that at this summit, which was first reported by Reuters, the two leaders decided to establish a joint investment fund to which both countries would contribute over $1 billion. According to the Russian news agency Interfax, one of the sectors that this strategic investment partnership will cover will be technology, but the details of the agreement have not yet been shared with the public. In a statement to Interfax, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) stated that the first investment platforms were launched with the Qatar Investment Authority in 2014 and that this platform has so far enabled investments in important projects in various key sectors across Russia, such as banking services, artificial intelligence, metal production, transportation and logistics.
Sultan of Oman Plans Historic Visit and Arab League Summit
Just a few days after the Emir of Qatar’s visit to Moscow, the Sultan of another major Gulf state, Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Saeed, made a historic move by becoming the first head of state from a Gulf state to visit Moscow. Following his meeting with the Omani leader, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly announced his intention to hold a major summit with the Arab League later this year. The Kremlin’s hosting of such a summit with the regional organization, which currently has 22 member states and focuses on promoting closer cooperation on areas of common interest, clearly demonstrates Russia’s determination to develop its relations with the Gulf states. Last year, Russia’s efforts to deepen military cooperation with Iran, with which many Gulf states have tense relations, attracted attention. The Omani Sultan’s visit to Moscow comes ahead of critical talks scheduled for April 26 in Oman between senior US and Iranian negotiators to continue talks on a possible nuclear deal.
Military Cooperation Efforts and Joint Exercises
In addition to economic partnerships, Russia’s efforts to increase cooperation with the Gulf countries in the military arena are also striking. In this context, the fifth joint naval exercise held by Iran, Russia and China in the Gulf of Oman last month can be considered a concrete example of military cooperation in the region. Russian defense companies are also trying to make a strong return to the global arms market, relying on the remarkable weapon models they have exhibited at recent major trade fairs in the Middle East. The atmosphere at the 2025 IDEX and NAVDEX defense fairs held in February was quite different from the 2023 editions, which featured more than a dozen Russian participants. While Moscow-based companies were not even listed on the fair’s official website two years ago, this time they were present in one of the fair’s most central and busiest halls, side by side with major regional players such as Saudi Arabia’s Military Industries and Qatar’s Barzan Holdings. This can be interpreted as a clear indication of Russia’s efforts to normalize and develop relations with the Gulf countries.
