Saudi Arabia and UAE mediated Griner’s release-statement
2022.12.08 10:08
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Saudi Arabia and UAE mediated Griner’s release-statement
Budrigannews.com – According to a joint statement released on Thursday by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the president of the UAE and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia served as mediators in the prisoner swap that resulted in the release of American basketball star Brittney Griner.
It stated that Griner arrived in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on a private plane from Moscow following her release by Russian authorities, just as former arms dealer Viktor Bout, a Russian citizen, arrived on another private plane from Washington following his release by U.S. authorities.
The Arabic-language statement continued, “The successful mediation efforts reflect the strong friendship that the two countries share with the United States and Russia, and the important role that the leadership of the two brotherly countries played in strengthening dialogue between all sides.”
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In September, Saudi Arabia had won a diplomatic victory by freeing foreign fighters captured in Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, longtime allies of the United States, are part of the OPEC+ oil producers alliance, which also includes Russia. However, they have resisted Western pressure to help isolate Moscow due to its invasion of Ukraine.
When OPEC+ agreed in October to cut oil output targets over U.S. objections, the mediation reflects efforts to demonstrate that their ties with Russia are beneficial to Washington. Washington had accused Gulf oil producers of siding with Russia.
