Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave Vladimir Putin a high five in extraordinary scenes during the G20 leader’s summit in Argentina.
Salman, who has been accused by the international community of ordering the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, had been left standing alone as world leaders filed past him and into a meeting room – before the Russian President arrived.
Putin, who has faced claims he ordered the nerve attack on Sergei Skripal in Britain, then held up his hand which the Saudi enthusiastically grabbed before they sat down with broad smiles on their face.
The Russian leader has also been put under increasing pressure in recent days after warships rammed, fired on, then seized three Ukrainian boats in the Kerch Strait in a serious escalation of tensions around Crimea.
President Trump was criticized broadly for his response to Khashoggi’s death, with the president citing an arms deal as reason to maintain good relations with Saudi Arabia despite the incident.
The White House prevented CIA Director Gina Haspel from attending a closed-door briefing on the killing this week with senators, prompting more criticism.
Trump canceled a meeting with Putin at the summit yesterday as his former attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump’s desire to build a resort in Moscow.
Before the handshake with Putin, the Crown Prince was grilled for five minutes by French President Emmanuel Macron, who insisted that international experts form part of the team investigating Khashoggi’s killing.
He also conveyed ‘very firm’ messages to the Prince over the Saudi-led war against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Saudi prince is accused of crimes against humanity over the war in Yemen, and his international standing has plummeted over the killing of Mr Khashoggi.
The journalist was murdered by a hit squad in Istanbul on October 2. Saudi authorities have denied Prince Mohammed ordered the hit but the CIA is said to be claiming that the order came from the top.
In Yemen, a Saudi bombardment has destroyed the country, leaving 10,000 civilians dead and 15 million facing what the UN says could be the worst famine the world has known in 100 years.