Biden administration begged Saudis to push oil cut until after midterms: report
By Caitlin Doornbos
October 11, 2022 2:41pm
WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia shut down Biden officials’ pleadings to delay the crucial OPEC+ decision last week slashing oil production until after the upcoming midterm elections, with Riyadh viewing the demand as a political ploy, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
American officials cautioned the Saudi government that cutting oil production would weaken Washington’s already strained relationship with Riyadh, and that the US would interpret the move as the kingdom taking Russia’s side in its ongoing war on Ukraine, according to the newspaper, which cited unnamed sources.
Saudi leaders rejected the White House’s request, “which they viewed as a political gambit by the Biden administration to avoid bad news” ahead of the Nov. 8 elections.
Instead, the Saudi-led group of oil-producing nations announced last week it will slash output by 2 million barrels a day, causing a spike in gas prices.
In response, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez called to cut all ties with the Middle Eastern nation Tuesday.
“The United States must immediately freeze all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including any arms sales and security cooperation beyond what is absolutely necessary to defend U.S. personnel and interests,” Menendez said in a statement. “As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will not green-light any cooperation with Riyadh until the Kingdom reassesses its position with respect to the war in Ukraine. Enough is enough.”
Saudi Arabia is the US’ largest foreign military sales customer, with more than $100 billion in active cases, according to the State Department — which in August approved the $3.05 billion sale of 300 Patriot guided tactical ballistic missiles and associated equipment.
Three other House Democrats introduced a bill last week that would pull all US troops and missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia in response to the OPEC+ decision.
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https://nypost.com/2022/10/11/biden-admin-begged-saudis-to-push-oil-cut-until-after-midterms-report/