During his official visit to Russia, President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi was keen to emphasize the role Russia had always played in Yemen, its unwavering support to the nation and its long-standing friendship, which he noted on times such as these, where Yemen was reaching out to its friends to weather the crisis, Russia had proven to be a reliable pillar of strength.
Relations between Russia and Yemen goes back more than 80 years ago. Russia was actually the first foreign power to recognize the Yemen Arab Republic in 1962, when the nation first broke away from its monarchial tradition to embrace republican values.
Ever since 1962, the two countries established strong diplomatic and military relations, Russia having become one of Yemen's main weapons and military equipment suppliers.
After his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Hadi told the expecting press, he had discussed with his counterpart the modernization of Yemen's Air Force and counter-terrorism strategies which could benefit the region and promote stability throughout.
“When the Yemeni province of Abyan came under control of Al Qaeda, the government army managed to free it,” President Hadi told Russia Today on Tuesday. “But we managed this, to a large extent, thanks to Russian arms, " he added.
After decades of mis-management and a lack of investment to its war air fleet, President Hadi signaled Yemen was now ready to restore its Air Force's former glory and step up its game against terror.
“We have asked Russia to sell us new planes and helicopters,” he said.
Moreover, as Yemen Oil Ministry is calling for investors to submit their bids, having opened five for blocks to the public sector, Yemeni officials invited Russian companies to partake in the new oil ventures and tighten Sana'a and Moscow's bond.