Biden is seen saying he wants to punish the kingdom in an interview to an American Broadcaster.
What are the reasons –
1. On the 5th of October the OPEC organization led by Saudi Arabia announced that it would cut its oil production by 2 million barrels per day.
America however is not convinced as it believes that the OPEC decision is against the interest of American people which simply put will lead to rising consumer prices and it’s the last thing America needs right now.
2. Mostly Biden is upset about this oil price rise ahead of the U.S midterm poll which are due this November. Rising oil prices could mean a defeat for Joe Biden and it could lead to loss of Congress seats.
Will Biden try to secure this re-election by waging a war.
There is anger in congress on the Saudi price hike decision and what Biden does next is a thing to keep an eye on.
3. Rise in oil prices will lead to increased revenue for oil producing countries, as Russia is a major oil producer some critics say that Russia is using oil money to fund the Ukraine war.
And that is how the OPEC decision is being seen as anti-American and pro-Russian.
The spokesperson for the U.S National Security Council said it is the president’s belief that the relationship needs to be reviewed and there will be consequences.
As both the countries are dependent on each other, Saudi sells oil to the U.S and U.S sells arms to Saudi. So mostly there will not be a formal policy announcement.
Saudi said they are used to hearing such type of comments from the Obama era but in the end all US representatives shy away from such statements as time passes.
America relations with Saudi Arabia have not been the best under Joe Biden.
At one point in time, he said he would make Saudi Arabia a pariah state and he would make Riyadh pay for the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
But when Biden was elected president, he went to Riyadh and did a little fist bump with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and seemed friendly.
Such statements and behaviour are seen as a foreign policy failure for the White House like – the Hasty exit from Afghanistan and the escalation of tensions with Russia.
