Pak Sahafat – White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby announced on Tuesday that US President Joe Biden is reassessing Washington’s relations with Riyadh following OPEC+’s decision to reduce oil production.
According to Pak Sahafat News Agency from Reuters news agency, Kirby said Biden is willing to work with Congress on the future of relations with Saudi Arabia.
In an interview that CNN conducted with him, Kirby added: I think the president has stated very clearly that these relations need to be re-evaluated and we are willing to review them.
He added: “Certainly, according to OPEC’s decision, I think he is in this position.”
Kirby said that Biden is disappointed with the decision of OPEC+ and is ready to work with Congress to consider what these relations should look like in the future.
The White House National Security Spokesman also added: I think he wants to start these negotiations immediately. He doesn’t think it’s something that should wait much longer.
Kirby said that this is not just about the war in Ukraine, but about the national security interests of the United States.
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Tension in Saudi-American relations after the OPEC+ decision
These words came after Bob Menendez, the Democratic Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for the termination of cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including in the field of arms sales to Riyadh.
The OPEC+ group announced last Wednesday that it will reduce its oil production by 2 million barrels per day, and this action, which is considered the biggest reduction since the corona epidemic; it was met with a sharp reaction from American officials who are worried about the increase in the price of gasoline in their country.
The price of Brent crude oil increased by more than 1% and reached nearly 93 dollars per barrel, and the price of American oil increased by 1.5% to 87.75 dollars.
This agreement was reached despite the pressure of the US and other countries for more production and it limits the supply in the market which is currently in a tight spot.
Citibank analysts have said that the increase in oil prices with a significant reduction in the production of this product can anger the Biden administration on the eve of the mid-term congressional elections.
Referring to the anti-monopoly bill of the US against OPEC, these analysts said that the new decision of OPEC+ can provoke more political reactions from the US, which includes the release of more strategic reserves and the expansion of NOPEC bills (against OPEC).
JP Morgan’s forecast has also shown that Washington is putting countermeasures, including the release of more oil reserves, on the agenda.