The tension continues to rise between Saudi Arabia Y USAwhich had particularly harsh exchanges on Thursday over oil production and, more broadly, over Riyadh’s attitude toward Moscow.
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The Saudis responded, in a rare statement, to criticism from the United States, which accuses them of having cut black gold production to “align” with the interests of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
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“Saudi Arabia viewed the statements … which described the decision as a position taken by the kingdom in international conflicts and as politically motivated against the United States,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Riyadh expressed its “total rejection” of the US accusations, assuring that the decisions of the cartel of crude exporters were “purely based on economic considerations”.
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Opec+, which brings together the 13 members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) led by Saudi Arabia, and 10 partners led by Russia, decided last week to cut their production quotas to support black gold prices.
‘Wrong direction’
US President Joe Biden warned that there will be “consequences” for this decision, which could favor Russia by supporting or boosting prices. Moscow needs your oil revenues to finance its war in Ukraine.
Riyadh, for its part, said that the United States “suggested” postponing the OPEC+ decision for a month, which could also raise the price of gasoline, and therefore annoy US voters.
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In summary, Saudi Arabia is saying the White House asked it to wait until the November 8 midterm elections are over.decisive in determining control of Congress and therefore for the remainder of Biden’s term.
Washington’s response to the Saudi statement was swift and especially strong.
“The Saudi Foreign Ministry may try to misrepresent or divert (attention), but the facts are simple,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
The Saudis have made it clear to us, privately and publicly, that they intended to cut oil production
“In recent weeks, the Saudis have made it clear to us, privately and publicly, that they intended to cut oil production, knowing that this would increase Russia’s revenue and blunt the impact of sanctions (against Moscow for the war). This is the wrong direction,” he said.
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And he emphasized: “They could easily have waited for the next OPEC meeting to see how things developed.”
‘Forced to support’
“Other OPEC countries told us privately that they also opposed the Saudi decision, but felt compelled to support” Riyadh’s strategy, Kirby charged. He added that Washington “will continue to monitor any signs of (Riyadh’s) position in response to Russian aggression” against Ukraine.
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Biden promised that he will “reassess” the longstanding strategic relationship between the two countries, which is based on a simple principle: Saudi Arabia feeds the oil market, and in return the United States guarantees its securityin particular through massive arms sales.
The US president visited Saudi Arabia in July to reaffirm this principle, and the White House therefore saw the OPEC+ decision as a diplomatic affront.
This visit, and the fist-bumping salute with Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, becomes increasingly politically costly for the 79-year-old Democratic president, who he promised during his election campaign to reduce Saudi Arabia to the status of a “pariah” after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
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Many Democratic lawmakers are calling for massive arms sales to Saudi Arabia to be frozen.
The White House, however, has not specified so far what the “consequences” mentioned by Biden would be.
AFP
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