Saudi Arabia: The foreign relations member of the Senate said that “there must be consequences” for the kingdom after the OPEC + oil production cuts

CNN
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A Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Sunday that “there must be consequences” after that Saudi Arabia and a cartel of major oil producers have moved to cut oil production Last week in a move White House It was said to be “short-sighted” and harmful to low- and middle-income countries.

“There have to be consequences for that. Whether it’s lifting the cartel’s immunity or whether it’s rethinking our forces presence there, or our security relationship, I think it’s time to acknowledge that the Saudis are not looking forward to us,” said Senator Chris Murphy. On Connecticut, CNN correspondent Jake Tapper in “State of the Union,” referring to the US military presence in the Middle East.

“We have looked for years in the other direction as Saudi Arabia has been chopping up journalists, engaging in widespread political repression, for one reason: We wanted to know that when the chips are down, when there is a global crisis, the Saudis are going to do it. We chose Russia instead,” Senator said. “Well, they didn’t. They chose Russia.”

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, said last week that they would cut oil production by two million barrels per day, the largest reduction since the beginning of the epidemic, in a move. that threatens to push gasoline prices higher a few weeks before the US midterm elections. The group announced the production cut after its first meeting in person since March 2020. The reduction is equivalent to about 2% of global oil demand.

Biden administration In a statement, he criticized the decision as “short-sighted” and said it hurt some countries already suffering from high energy prices more than others.

Production cuts will begin in November. OPEC+, which includes OPEC countries and allies such as Russia, will meet again in December.

On Sunday, Murphy also defended Biden’s meeting earlier this year with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and their members. controversial fist bump, “I have no problem with American presidents meeting our friends or foes,” he said.

The senator said the US-Saudi relationship “was broken during the era of Democratic presidents and Republican presidents” and acknowledged that “we clearly didn’t get what we needed from that meeting.”