Putin Speaks with Saudi Crown Prince, Calls for Safe Passage Through Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb
nashnova research
On September 22, Putin spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, both stressing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — the two chokepoints that carry a critical share of global oil shipments, where any disruption hits energy markets directly.
What did the two leaders actually discuss?
The Kremlin said both sides held detailed talks on the Middle East and stressed that political and diplomatic resolution is the only viable path.
They specifically called for a rapid end to hostilities in Yemen, where military and political conditions continue to deteriorate.
This means → Russia and Saudi Arabia are trying to build a joint position on the Middle East: negotiation first, no escalation.
Why do these two straits matter so much?
The Strait of Hormuz — the exit from the Persian Gulf, carrying roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil — and Bab el-Mandeb — the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal route — are the two most critical maritime energy corridors on earth.
Iran and Iran-aligned Houthi forces have disrupted both waterways, forcing Saudi Arabia to reroute oil exports through the Suez Canal.
In plain terms = Saudi oil needs to get out, but both the northern and southern sea lanes are under pressure — which is exactly why Riyadh is pulling in partners.
Why hasn't the US stepped in?
The New York Times reported that President Trump called off a strike on the Houthis last Sunday after bombs had already been loaded onto aircraft.
The Saudi Crown Prince had repeatedly asked the US to rejoin military operations against the Houthis; each request was refused.
This means → Washington is pulling back from Yemen, leaving Saudi Arabia to seek security partners elsewhere — and that is the backdrop to this phone call.
Russia and Saudi Arabia drawing closer — what does it signal for markets?
Both countries are core producers within the OPEC+ framework; their consensus on shipping-lane security feeds directly into expectations for stable global oil supply.
This reflects a broader shift: as the US scales back military involvement in the Middle East, oil-producing states are building their own security coordination.
Put simply = maritime safety used to be underwritten by the US Navy; now producers are negotiating and guaranteeing it themselves — the underlying logic of global energy security is changing.
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