The United States has signaled that it is reviewing its relationship with Saudi Arabia following the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries [OPEC+] alliance decision last week to slash oil production.
OPEC+ is a loosely affiliated entity consisting of the 13 OPEC members and 10 of the world’s major non-OPEC oil-exporting nations. OPEC+ aims to regulate the supply of oil in order to set the price on the world market.
The US is not part of OPEC. This means that the country has control over its own production and supply without any interference from the organization.
White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday that President Joe Biden president believes that America should review the bilateral relationship with Saudi Arabia, “and to take a look to see if that relationship is where it needs to be and that it is serving our national security interests.”
Also Read: OPEC+ Cuts or Not, White House Says US Would Refill Strategic Reserve
The White House security spokesman Mr. Kirby spoke to reporters a day after Bob Menendez, the chairman of the powerful Senate foreign relations committee, vowed to “freeze all aspects” of Washington’s co-operation with Saudi Arabia and threatened to block all future weapons sales.
Mr. Kirby said the president’s review would include an assessment of whether the bilateral relationship with Saudi Arabia is “serving our national security interests”.
He hinted that Mr. Biden intends to discuss the relationship review with the US Congress. He is “willing to discuss this relationship with members of Congress,” Mr Kirby said.
It would be recalled that during its last meeting in Vienna, OPEC+, which include countries like Russia, announced it would slash its November output by two million barrels per day.
This was its biggest production cut since the start of the pandemic in 2020 and led to a jump in oil prices. Observers say Washington interprets the OPEC+ decision on output cut as a move that benefits Russia, as its war with Ukraine escalates.
Also Read: OPEC+ Meets Today: May Cut Production Plan for November
Mr. Biden expressed his disappointment over the production cut, even as the situation led to a surge in oil prices, as the US heads into critical midterm elections.
When asked why the White House is specifically concerned with Saudi Arabia and not other OPEC+ members, Mr. Kirby pointed to Saudi leadership within the alliance.
“In light of the recent decision by OPEC, and Saudi Arabia’s leadership, [Mr Biden] does believe that this is a good time to re-evaluate and see what that relationship is gonna look like going forward.”
After Mr. Kirby’s comments were aired by CNN, Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan reportedly retorted: “Our relationship with the United States has been institutionalized since it was established. The OPEC+ decision was purely economic and was taken unanimously by the [organisation’s] member states.
“OPEC+ members acted responsibly and took the appropriate decision,” Prince Faisal told Al Arabiya, the Dubai based international Arabic television news channel.
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