A senior US source says that US Vice President Joe Biden has “no plans” to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at next month’s G20 conference in Indonesia, as tensions over the OPEC+ agreement to curb oil output continue to resonate.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that President Joe Biden would be “methodical” in determining how to react to Saudi Arabia about the oil output limits, with possibilities including adjustments to US security support.
Sullivan said on CNN that while Biden re-evaluates the US-Saudi alliance, no changes are anticipated.
He said, “The president will not act impulsively.” “He will proceed gradually and deliberately, and he will take the time to talk with members of both parties and wait for Congress to return so that he can sit down with them in person to discuss the choices.”
Oil output cutbacks have strained relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-dominated Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and an extra group of 10 oil producers led by Russia resolved last week to limit world supply by up to two million barrels per day beginning in November.
The action is anticipated to increase oil prices, which would assist Russia in financing its attack on Ukraine.
The Saudi Arabian Minister of Defense said that he was “amazed” by allegations that his country supported Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.
Prince Khalid bin Salman said that the OPEC+ decision was made unanimously and only for economic reasons. On Twitter, the son of King Salman said, “It is telling that these bogus charges did not originate from the Ukrainian administration.”
