Russia-Saudi Arabia Cooperation: Potential and Limitations

The Polish Institute of International Affairs is an analytical institution established by an act of Parliament in 1996 to carry out research and provide expertise in international affairs. PISM disseminates information on contemporary international issues and maintains contacts with academic and political centres in Poland and abroad. The Institute runs courses for public servants, maintains a library (open to the public; 165,000 books and journals), organises conferences, and publishes books, periodicals and documents on Polish foreign policy and international matters.

The funding for PISM comes from the budget. The director is appointed by the prime minister for a term of five years, following consultation with the minister of foreign affairs. The minister supervises the Institute and appoints its advisory council, which includes a representative of the President of the Republic of Poland, academics and officials.Arabia and Russia promoted contrary approaches to resolving the conflict in Syria as well as differed in their perceptions of Iran’s role in the Middle East. This splits in interest limited cooperation in the armaments sector. The new sphere of Russian-Saudi cooperation was energy, especially in the oil market. Russia sought to use Saudi Arabia as an instrument to undermine U.S. influence in the Middle East.