Saudi Arabia consolidates soft power as Riyadh hosts US-Russia talks

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00:00The US's chief diplomat is in Saudi Arabia, joined by his Russian counterpart for a meeting.

00:06The aim? To restore Russian-American relations, which have been virtually frozen for three

00:12years.

00:13Seeing the two superpowers meeting in Riyadh to settle their differences is prestigious

00:18and confirms the kingdom's soft power.

00:21But how did Saudi Arabia find itself at the centre of the game?

00:25Trump and Mohammed bin Salman both share the same business-like approach to world affairs.

00:30The American president had honoured the young crown prince with his first foreign visit

00:34during his first term, at a time when Saudi Arabia had become an international pariah

00:39after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

00:42Vladimir Putin is also staying close to MBS. The Russian president warmly greeted his Saudi

00:47counterpart during the G20 in 2018, only a few weeks after Khashoggi's death.

00:54The pair is also bound by petroleum. Within OPEP+, Saudi Arabia and Russia work together

01:00to influence the price of black gold and preserve their mutual interests.

01:05Mohammed bin Salman has been able to forge personal relationships with presidents Trump

01:09and Putin. Riyadh is perceived as a neutral but friendly party, respected by both sides.

01:15The Ukrainian president has not been forgotten. Having visited Riyadh several times, Vladimir

01:21Zelensky has been promised hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid. He's expected

01:26back in the kingdom on Wednesday. Riyadh is strengthening its influence in the region.

01:31These last few weeks, the new leaders of Syria and Lebanon have placed Saudi Arabia on the

01:36top of their diplomatic agenda.

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