Can Nuclear Power Warm Russian-Saudi Relations?

Just weeks ago, Saudi Arabia and Russia traded diplomatic barbs over the conflicts in Yemen and Syria.  Now, the world’s two top oil producers have reached a series of agreements spanning everything from housing to space exploration. 

One of those deals inked at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum calls for Russia to help Saudi Arabia develop and maintain a nuclear energy program.  The agreement is raising some eyebrows.

The nuclear agreement came as no surprise to Bruce Riedel, senior fellow and director of the Brookings Institution’s Intelligence Project, but the timing and the players did.

“The timing coming shortly after President Obama hosted GCC leaders at Camp David.  This seems to be a move by the Kingdom to show it has alternatives to the United States—or maybe supplements to the United States,” he said. (Voice of America)

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See our look at the Saudi Russian relationship.