Video: ‘Until death do us part,’ Saudi praises Russia energy partnership
Abdullateef Fowewe
Saudi Energy Minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman has praised the resilience of the Saudi‑Russian energy relationship.
Video: ‘Until death do us part,’ Saudi praises Russia energy partnership
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Salman stated that the partnership had “withstood every storm the world threw at it” and stressing the need for market stability amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
He framed the Saudi‑Russia ties built around OPEC+ cooperation since about 2015–2016 as durable and pragmatic.
“Weathering all of these storms the partnership has withstood every storm the world threw at it,” he said.
The minister underscored that the collaboration is grounded in mutual interests rather than ideology.
“I am a Muslim and Russia is not Catholic, but still we do go by ‘until death do us part,’” he told the audience, using a pointed metaphor to emphasise long‑term commitment despite cultural and political differences.
The Minister used his remarks to argue for continued efforts to stabilise energy markets.
He described Saudi Arabia as “a reliable, flexible, and resilient energy supplier,” and said there were effectively no limits on cooperation with Russia across energy and other sectors.
He warned that current geopolitical events in the Middle East and other uncertainties make predictability and coordination in oil markets especially important.
The minister’s comments come against the backdrop of periodic volatility in global energy markets and intensified geopolitical tensions in recent months.
Saudi Arabia and Russia, the two largest non‑U.S. producers in the OPEC+ grouping have coordinated output policies in recent years to influence global supply and prices, a partnership that has drawn scrutiny from consumers and producers alike.
At SPIEF, Prince Abdulaziz also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s capacity to respond to market changes, while reiterating the kingdom’s interest in a diversified economy and broader international partnerships.
