Despite Saudi Arabia's objections, Russia still decides to sell S-400 missiles to Qatar

"The transfer of S-400 long-range air defense systems to Qatar will increase the budget revenues of the Russian government and serve Moscow's national interests. Saudi Arabia's position has nothing to do with this, our plans will not change,"Sputnikquoted MP Aleksei Kondratyev, Deputy Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Russian Senate, speaking on June 3.

The statement was released after the newsThe WorldFrance has published a letter believed to be from Saudi Arabia's King Salman to French President Emmanuel Macron, asking France to block Qatar's purchase of S-400 air defense missiles. The Saudi king warned that he would use drastic measures, including military intervention against Qatar, to prevent the country from acquiring the S-400 system.

"Qatar will have more advantages over neighboring countries by purchasing the Russian S-400 system. Besides, the US also does not want to lose the large arms market here and they will try to put pressure on Saudi Arabia. Riyadh's tension is understandable," said MP Kondratyev.

In December 2017, Qatari Ambassador to Russia Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah revealed that his country was also negotiating to buy advanced Russian air defense systems such as the S-400 Triumf and Pantsir-S1. However, it is unclear whether Qatar will be able to acquire the Russian S-400 system in the future.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and several other countries severed diplomatic ties with Qatar last year, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups and Iran. Doha has repeatedly denied the accusations of the Arab countries. This is the biggest diplomatic crisis in recent years in the Gulf.