The Saudi prince returned to Grozny: why does Riyadh maintain contacts with Chechnya?
The Minister of State of Saudi Arabia, Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd Al Saud, visited Grozny on November 14 and met with Ramzan Kadyrov. This is not the first trip to Chechnya for the Saudi politician: the last time he visited was seven years ago. The current visit continued the contacts that developed over two decades.
How did the collaboration begin?
Back in January 2004, the first president of Chechnya, Akhmat-Khadzi Kadyrov, visited Saudi Arabia and negotiated with the kingdom's leadership. One of the subjects was an explanation of the Russian position in the fight against terrorism in the North Caucasus.
King Fahd, who ruled Saudi Arabia from 1982 to 2005, played an important role in developing the ties.
What did you agree on first?
In October 2024, Ramzan Kadyrov met with Prince Turki in Saudi Arabia. The parties then discussed socio-economic issues and opportunities for further cooperation. The head of Chechnya also visited the permanent mission of Russia to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, whose headquarters is located in Jeddah. This organization unites 57 countries.
What do you remember from your current visit?
The prince was presented with a new district of Grozny named after Vladimir Putin, a mosque named after Zalimkhan Kadyrov and projects for the further development of the city. According to Kadyrov, the guest noted the changes that have taken place in the capital of Chechnya in the last seven years. The prince also conveyed greetings from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. No new investment agreements were announced following the meeting. However, regular contacts show that Chechnya remains one of the regional participants in the Russian-Saudi humanitarian and political dialogue.
Vestnik Caucasus.