WASHINGTON: United States President Joe Biden has indicated a souring of relations between the US and Saudi Arabia after oil production cuts. Biden has “no plans” to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G20 summit in Indonesia this November, according to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. “Joe Biden has no plans to meet the Crown Prince at the G20 summit,” Mr Sullivan told CNN.
It comes after OPEC’s support for Riyadh to cut oil production. The planned cuts have engulfed Washington, with Biden warning Tuesday of unspecified “consequences.”
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Last week’s move by OPEC+ – made up of the Riyadh-led OPEC cartel and an additional group of 10 exporters led by Russia – would cut global output by up to two million barrels per day from November.
It could soar energy prices amid the war-ravaged energy crisis in Ukraine, and inflation-weary US voters prepare to cast ballots in midterm elections.
The White House has alleged that OPEC+ was “aligning with Russia”, saying the cuts would boost Moscow’s revenues and weaken sanctions imposed on its invasion of Ukraine. Saudi officials have defended the move as purely economic, not political.
(with agency input)