Tensions have risen again between Saudi Arabia and the United States, which had particularly heated exchanges on Thursday about oil production and, more broadly, about Riyadh’s attitude towards Moscow.
The Saudis have, in a rare statement, hit back at the criticism of the United States, which accuses them of having slashed the production of black gold in order to “align” with the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Saudi Arabia has seen the statements … that described the decision as the kingdom’s stance 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 U.S. accusations, assuring that the decisions of the crude exporters’ cartel were “based purely on economic considerations.”
Opec+ – the thirteen members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) led by Saudi Arabia and their ten partners led by Russia – decided last week to slash their production quotas.
– “Total rejection” –
US President Joe Biden has already warned that there will be “consequences” to this decision, which may cause prices to soar. And therefore to fill the coffers of Russia, which needs its oil revenues to finance its war in Ukraine.
Riyadh, for its part, said that the United States “suggested” to him to postpone by one month the decision of Opep+, which could also raise the price of gasoline, and thus displease the American voters.
Clearly, Saudi Arabia is saying that the White House has asked it to wait until the mid-term elections in the United States, scheduled for November 8 and decisive for the continuation of Joe Biden’s mandate, have passed.
Washington’s response to the Saudi communiqué was swift and particularly strong.
Saudi Arabia “may try to manipulate and deflect, but the facts are simple,” the White House charged Thursday.
– “Wrong direction” –
“In recent weeks, the Saudis have made it clear to us, privately and publicly, that they intend to cut oil production, knowing that this would increase Russia’s revenues and lessen the impact of sanctions. This is the wrong direction,” said John Kirby,
spokesperson for the National Security Council.
“They could have easily waited until the next Opec meeting to see how things were going,” he further noted. “Other OPEC countries have told us privately that they also oppose the Saudi decision, but have felt forced to support” Riyadh’s strategy, John Kirby also charged.
Washington “will continue to monitor any signals on (Riyadh’s) position on responding to Russian aggression” against Ukraine, he said.
Joe Biden has already promised to “re-evaluate” the very long strategic relationship between the two countries, which is based on a simple principle: Saudi Arabia supplies the market with oil, and in exchange, the United States ensures its security, notably through massive arms sales.
The American president had 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 now-famous fist-for-fist greeting exchanged with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmane – is proving decidedly more and more politically costly for the 79-year-old Democrat, who promised during his campaign to reduce Saudi Arabia to “pariah status” in the wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Many Democratic lawmakers are now calling for a freeze on massive arms sales to Saudi Arabia. However, the White House has not yet specified what the “consequences” mentioned by Joe Biden would be.
