SOCHI, Russia — In the run-up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Russia continues to promote its Gulf security concept. On Oct. 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the meaning of the initiative. Speaking at the annual session of the Valdai Discussion Club conference in Sochi, Lavrov reminded the audience of international experts and policymakers that Moscow proposed a similar idea in 2004, but the regional states were rather lukewarm about it back then.
"After we’ve seen dangerous escalations during this summer — including in the Strait of Hormuz and condemnation of Iran for pretty much everything that’s happening in the region, be it in Palestine, Lebanon, in Syria or elsewhere — we’ve decided it was time to refresh the concept and draw attention to it,” Lavrov said.
