What is behind Saudi king’s 'historic' Moscow visit?

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry hailed this week's visit of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Moscow as "historic".

Riyadh and Moscow have been at odds for decades. The two oil superpowers produce almost half of the world's crude - and fiercely compete for market shares. Moscow's efforts that propped up Syrian President Bashar Assad's government have pitted Russia against Saudis and other Sunni Arab states.

Yet, in the past year, an unexpected rapprochement between the two countries has been in the making amid Moscow's deteriorating ties with Washington and US President Donald Trump's unpredictable policy shifts.

Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands reports.

[xXPetaByteXx]

When will these saudi monarchs realize that islamic-arab unity is all they got. NEVER TRUST ANYONE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CULTURE

[dilnadan]

love you king from Pakistan
اللھم احفظ بلاد حرمین الشریفین و جمیع دولہ مسلمین

[sowhat]

Also, military deals. Saudi Arabia will purchase the S-400 system which is a direct blow to their partnership with the USA, after Turkey did the same earlier this year.

[bermudezhg]

This is how you surrender....diplomatically !!

[vragenstaatvrij]

They share oil interests. Good opportunity to fix the price.

[ronqureshi]

they got tired of american toilet paper, so next is to try russian

[Homestyleforduc]

I thought trump was supposed to make the relationship better. His voters aren't paying attention now!

[nayanmalig]

Meanwhile the orange war chief is wasting time battling Kim ding Dong on Twitter.

[SuratMaidah]

The end of the Petrodollar and the western hegemony.

[jonathanalbertm.fabila]

this is russias way... not like america always war freak... long live russia

[zhdlot]

Saudi Arabia is taking " The greater Israel project " not as a joke anymore and knows half of Saudi Arabian Land is at stake

[neodiy]

King wants to buy AK47 for his kids for them to play in the back yard...shooting the sky for fun...

[bingobingo]

The king of the terrorists has been to Moscow to say sorry for Syria and kiss putin's feet.

[danjal]

Isis is loosing its ground in Syria, now Saudi Arabia have to go to diplomacy to try to restore..

[Pradeep]

Good move... whatever goes up should come down

[RUSSIANIDL]

Welcome to Moscow His Imperial Majesty King Salman ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud!

[moemoe]

Putin drew a line in the sand: No Camels in Moscow and No Lizards for Lunch.

[missema]

I believe that the two countries should firstly attempt to stabilize the situations in the Middle East region as a whole and, secondly, to learn how to prevent the differences from influencing their bilateral cooperation on oil, gas, energy, technology, science and culture.

[chadbarry]

They are a very wealthy country. If they develop properly now, they will certainly be fruitfull in the future as well.

[wayneblake]

THERE IS NO SUCH THINK AS A SAUDI KING!