Boris Johnson sweated as he disembarked in RiyadhCapital of Saudi Arabia, a city of almost 800,000 people in the centre of the an-Nafud desert., and not just because of the heat. The British prime minister was on a mission to charm the leader of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (known as MBS).

Johnson had done well even to get there. US president Joe Biden had failed to get a phone call. And emerging from the meeting on Wednesday, it seemed he had made progress, describing talks as "very productive".

Saudi Arabia is the world's second-largest oil producer, pumping up to 12,402,761,040 barrels per day. The third-largest, with 11,262,746,200, is Russia. 

Vladimir Putin has threatened to cut off oil and gas imports to the West. Instead, Biden and Johnson want Saudi Arabia to release more oil for Western countries.

Europe is dependent on Russian resources, especially natural gas. In 2020, European countries imported 186 billion cubic meters of gas - about 36% of Europe's total gas demand.

Turning to Saudi Arabia could offer a vital solution that prevents ever spiralling fuel prices. But it has come under heavy criticism. Many have accused Johnson of condemning Russia's atrocities while ignoring Saudi Arabia's. In a thundering speech, Labour leader Keir Starmer said the PM was "going cap in hand from dictator to dictator".

Johnson has stood firm. He insists that he pressed the leader during their meeting to alter Saudi Arabia's human rights record, adding that "things are changing" in the secretive country. But critics argue there is little proof of this. Indeed, three people were executed while he was visiting.

Saudi Arabia's record on human rights is arguably even worse than Russia's. The Human Freedom IndexAn annual list published by several research institutes which seeks to compare how many freedoms and rights humans enjoy in different countries. puts it in 155th place, well beneath Russia's 126th. While Putin imprisons dissidents, Saudi Arabia flogsIn 2015, the blogger Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes of the whip for speaking out against Saudi authority. He has not been seen since., beheads and sometimes even crucifies them. Last weekend, authorities carried out a mass execution of 81 men.

MBS came to power after imprisoning, torturing and blackmailing 400 powerful Saudis in a luxury hotel. He is widely believed to have ordered the brutal 2018 murder of journalist Jamal KhashoggiKhashoggi was murdered at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2, 2018. It is widely agreed that he was assassinated by Saudi agents because of his opposition to the country's regime.. 

His army is currently fighting a devastating war in neighbouring Yemen, which the United Nations has called the "world's worst humanitarian disaster".

There is no doubt that Saudi Arabia is a cruel regime. But difficult times involve difficult choices. According to UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, MBS does "not pose a threat to global security in the way that Vladimir Putin does". 

The Yemen War is dreadful, but it is localised. Saudi Arabia has not tried cyberattacks on neighbouring countries or to influence elections.

And perhaps the direction of travel is important. MBS inherited a conservative monarchy. Since seizing power, he has reduced censorship and widened women's rights. Putin came to power in a democratic election. But since, he has tip-toed closer and closer to tyranny. 

Yes: No nation is entirely innocent. Many are corrupt and engage in war. But Putin's entirely unprovoked attack on Ukraine is another order of evil, which should be resisted whatever the cost.

No: Saudi Arabia may not tamper with the world's order as much as Russia. But it is much smaller and without nuclear weapons. If it had Russia's arsenal and extent, perhaps it would act more like it.

Or...? To call one country better than another is to call states moral agents, able to choose between good and evil actions. Countries are more like animals, run by instinct and self-preservation.