1/n 2 days ago as I ws returning home frm my gym I spotted a flag with blue red & white. FRANCE I thot! Hw did I miss 1 of d most powerful flags in d world--RUSSIA? #Putin is in UAE today!Welcome to post-American middle east! 😊👍 My thread on middle east as I understand it 
This is Putin’s first visit to UAE in last 12yre, his last official visit happened in 2007. On 14th Oct, he ws in Saudi Arabia.Its the impeccable timing of his visit to GCC that surprises me. Russia thawing its relations with American allies is not a recent phenomenon. 2/n
3/n Russia is right now part of #OPEC as an observer. Since 2015 it hs along with other oil producing countries played a significant role in controlling the oil prices. Bt then its not only abt oil. Russia, Saudi arabia and UAE now hv "space-ties" too.
2 weeks ago it ws a Russia spaceship that took the 1st Emrati astronaut,Hazzaa Al Mansoor, to Int'l space station. While in KSA, Putin signed 20 deals which also include space and SATELLITE navigation. Need of the hour!!! 4/n
5/n A lot has happened in middle east in last few weeks--frm Aramco attacks to America reducing its footprint in Syria. Jst d right time 4 PUTIN to step in. Honestly it'll b wrong to call this post-American middle east. Right nw everyone seems to b happy with everyone else. 😃👍
So this is where relations in middle east start getting complicated.Russia is in good books of not jst Saudi Arabia n UAE bt also of Israel n Iran. Israeli PM Netanyahu despite being busy campaigning made time to visit Russia last month. Putin will visit Israel nxt yr.Surprised?
7/n Russia is also good frens with Syria, Iran n Turkey. Wow! Putin, def knws how to handle his int'l relations well. Bt then do not underestimate America. US's nuclear agreement with Iran in 2015,mos def didnt go down with all the above mentioned countries. Bt then US knws hw to
8/n Bt then US knws how to play its cards well. US hs decided to help Saudi by sending its troops there. Announcement ws made after U.S. forces abruptly pulled out of NE-Syria. US and Saudi relations are steady. Hv no doubt!
9/n 'If anyone thinks that seizing tankers & attacking oil infrastructure can in any way affect cooperation btwn Russia and our Arab friends,Saudi Arabia and d UAE, then they r profoundly wrong' – PUTIN. Ah well! That statement ws for whoever attacked ships frm UAE n Aramco.
10/n In the month of June i hd posted abt hw 2 oil tankers frm UAE, headed to Japan wr attacked. Link to my tweet>>>
11/n Conclusion: Countries in middle east hv nw learnt to balance their ties with both--US n Russia. In d vid--Putin being welcomed in #UAE. Escort cars with Cyrillic letters "ДПС" meaning "traffic police patrol" in Russian. Via @AleksKhlebnikov
@AleksKhlebnikov Oopsie! 4got to mention CHINA. That's a new player in dregion, which is not as boisterous as its counterparts-- US n Russia. It is a dark horse which you will spot only when its abt to win d race. India, meanwhile, is happy in behind-the-curtain activities. Bt its doing well!
In d* region
