Military cooperation between Moscow, Riyadh 'sensitive'

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - The military-technical cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia was not directed against any third country, Kremlin spokesman said on Friday.

"No doubt, this issue [military technical cooperation] is a sensitive one. Work on these issues will continue," Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia's official TASS news agency.

Peskov said the cooperation between Moscow and Riyadh was in the interest of both countries and also of the world's stability.

"...of course, it is not directed against any third party in any way. Therefore, any statements of concern in this regard, we consider as unfounded," he added.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud has been on his first ever state visit to Moscow, where he met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

The leaders discussed a range of issues of bilateral relations and prospects of enhancing cooperation in the trade, economic and investment. They also exchanged views on international developments.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia interested in purchasing S-400 air defense missile systems, adding talks have been in progress, but there was no final decision yet.

The S-400 is Russia’s most advanced long-range anti-aircraft missile system and can carry three types of missiles capable of destroying targets including ballistic and cruise missiles.

It can track and engage up to 300 targets at the same time and has an altitude ceiling of 27 kilometers (17 miles).