Putin gifts a Kamchatka falcon to King Salman of Saudi Arabia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz al Saud, of Saudi Arabia, with a Kamchatka falcon during his state visit to the KSA.

“This is a very good falcon. We are creating a falcon breeding center on the Kamchatka Peninsula,” Putin told King Salam while the bird was presented to him.

According to the Russian news agency, it is a young female called Alfa. The Saudi side will be free to choose a new name for the bird.

The falcon has become synonymous with wealth and power, whether in glossy advertising campaigns or as a gift between state leaders.

Sovereigns visiting other courts would bring retinues of falcons as gifts in older days. And according to historians, it was a  mean of acknowledging the other ruler’s power.

Putin also gifted a sculpture made from mammoth ivory to the Crown Prince.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday at the start of his Gulf tour which includes the United Arab Emirates.

This visit comes as the reciprocal of King Salman’s historic visit to Moscow in 2017. Which has resulted in some significant political agreements and economic deals.

Today, President Putin left for the United Arab Emirates as part of the Middle Eastern tour and met with Abu Dhabi’s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the airport before traveling with him to the Qasr Al Watan palace.