Saudi cautious as Iran looks to make gains from Putin’s China visit

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WASHINGTON — Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear that outside his closest neighbors Belarus and Kazakhstan, China is a top destination with 19 trips in total since becoming president of Russia in 2000 and four times since he invaded Ukraine in 2022. 

This week’s two-day visit has Western countries peevish at the prospect of Beijing and Moscow boosting cooperation that further undermines the sanctions regime on the Kremlin since the war began. But on the Middle East, the visit sends mixed signals as both Russia and China confront new challenges in the region. Both are drawing closer to Iran but face setbacks with Arab Gulf states. 

A red-carpet reception was in order as Putin touched down in Beijing on Thursday morning local time, accompanied by a high-level delegation to discuss a range of issues from the Ukraine war to booming trade and military cooperation.