The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has invited all Arab leaders for a Russian-Arab Summit on October 15, 2025.
The summit, the first of its kind, will contribute to bolstering cooperation between Russia and the Arab States and explore ways to establish peace and stability in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Russian President.
The invitation came on the heels of a Middle Eastern tour for the US President, Donald Trump, where he visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, consolidating the relations between Washington and the three Gulf countries through several bilateral agreements across various fields of cooperation.
Russian-Arab Summit
In a statement issued by the Kremlin on Saturday, Putin expressed hope for strengthening relations with the Arab League, by fostering dialogue with its member states.
“I would like to invite the leaders of all Arab League states, as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League, to the first Russian-Arab Summit, which we plan to hold on October 15,” he said.
“I am confident that this meeting will help strengthen multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries and also search for ways to bring about peace, security and stability in the Middle East and North Africa,” the Russian President added.
Putin first unveiled plans to hold a Russian-Arab Summit in April 2025, during a visit by Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, to Moscow.
“We are preparing to hold a summit between Russia and the Arab states this year. Many of our friends in the Arab world have expressed support for this idea,” Putin said, as quoted by Russian news agency TASS.
Arab Summit in Baghdad
Putin’s statement welcomed the 34th Arab League Summit, taking place in Baghdad on May 17, 2025, which is “being held at a difficult time,” he noted.
“The escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives, has dramatically aggravated tensions and enhanced many social and economic problems in adjacent countries and throughout the Middle East as a whole,” Putin said.
He pointed to the significant role of the Arab League in de-escalating tensions in the region. “The role of the Arab League as an effective mechanism for multilateral dialogue and interaction is especially important in this situation,” the Russian President said.
The Arab League is a regional organization comprising 22 members of Arab States in the Middle East and parts of Africa. It focuses on enhancing cooperation on political, economic and military affairs in the region.
Russian-Arab Cooperation
In his statement, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s support for the Arab League’s efforts to resolve conflicts and advance peace in the region. “For its part, Russia has consistently supported the collective political and diplomatic efforts taken by Arab countries within both the Arab League and in other formats to resolve current contradictions in the region,” he noted.
“We believe that all disputes should be settled on the basis of existing norms of international law and unwavering respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” Putin added.
The Russian President also expressed his country’s willingness to enhance relations with the members of the Arab League. “We intend to continue to develop all-round constructive dialogue with the Arab League and friendly relations with all its members,” he said.
Trump’s Gulf Tour
Putin’s invitation for a Russian-Arab Summit came shortly after the US President, Donald Trump, concluded his trip to the Gulf region, where he visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE.
During the visit, the US consolidated ties with the three nations, by securing multiple economic and defense deals, including a $600 billion commitment by Saudi Arabia to invest in the US, $142 billion in arms sales to the kingdom, and an AI partnership with the UAE.
The visit also featured a significant announcement regarding Syria. While in Saudi Arabia, Trump announced lifting all US sanctions on Syria and met with the Syrian Transitional President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Riyadh, in a major diplomatic shift marking the culmination of extensive efforts led by Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
