Russian diplomats report ongoing discussions about high-level meetings with Gulf leaders, alongside expanding visa-free travel arrangements for Russian citizens. In Bahrain, the Russian Ambassador, Alexei Skosyrev, indicated that conversations are underway about a possible encounter between Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Russian President Vladimir Putin. At this stage, the leaders have not fixed a location or a date, and no formal agreement has been announced. These remarks come as part of a broader diplomatic cadence being observed by Moscow in the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, Evgeny Ivanov, a former Foreign Minister and a Deputy Head of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, suggested that Russia is actively pursuing visa-free regimes with several states. He noted that agreements are being explored with Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and other countries as part of Moscow’s broader effort to facilitate easier travel for Russian citizens. Ivanov pointed to ongoing drafts of visa-free arrangements with Mexico and Malaysia, as well as with some Caribbean island nations, signaling a diverse geographic push to simplify entry requirements for travelers from Russia.
The dialogue extends to a wider set of Gulf states. The diplomat emphasized that talks are also moving forward on visa-free regimes with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Zambia, aiming to remove routine travel barriers for Russian travelers in each case. This sequence of discussions reflects a shared interest in expanding people-to-people ties, business travel, and educational exchanges across a region that holds strategic energy and economic significance.
In Moscow’s official circle, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov reiterated the aim of establishing visa-free travel with a broad array of Persian Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The emphasis is on creating a framework that reduces administrative friction for travelers and supports closer economic and cultural collaboration. The statements underscore a consistent policy direction from the Russian government toward the Gulf Cooperation Council members and nearby partners, highlighting a preference for liberalizing movement for busy business travelers, scientists, students, and families seeking smoother cross-border access. [Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry Statements, summarized by regional observers]