WASHINGTON — President Biden is reevaluating America’s relationship with Saudi Arabia because the Riyadh-led OPEC+ alliance strikes to chop oil manufacturing and Democratic lawmakers name for a freeze on cooperation with the Saudis.
John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council on the White House, stated Tuesday that Biden believes “it’s time to take another look at this relationship and make sure that it’s serving our national security interests.”
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Rep. Ro Khanna of California launched laws that may instantly pause all U.S. arms gross sales to Saudi Arabia for one 12 months. The pause would additionally halt gross sales of restore components, help providers and logistical help.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated the White House has no timeline for its evaluation nor has the president appointed an adviser to function level individual.
Meanwhile, officers underscore the central function that Saudi Arabia performs in addressing broader nationwide safety issues within the Middle East.
Blumenthal and Khanna unveiled their laws in the future after Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, stated it was unacceptable that OPEC+ had moved to chop oil manufacturing and successfully bolster Russian coffers as Moscow wages warfare on Ukraine.
Menendez promised to make use of his place as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to dam any future arms gross sales to the Saudis.
At the White House, Kirby stated, “We’re going to take a look at this relationship seriously as well as taking seriously the concerns of members of Congress.”
OPEC+, which incorporates Russia in addition to Saudi Arabia, introduced final week it could reduce manufacturing by 2 million barrels a day, which is able to assist prop up oil costs which are permitting Russian President Vladimir Putin to maintain paying for his warfare in Ukraine.
“They are certainly aligning themselves with Russia,” Jean-Pierre stated of the Saudis. “This is not a time to be aligning with Russia.”
Putin on Tuesday hailed the OPEC cuts throughout a gathering in St. Petersburg with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the president of the United Arab Emirates.
Kirby additionally famous that weapon gross sales to Riyadh serve, partly, as an essential counterweight within the area to Iran, which is shortly transferring towards turning into a nuclear energy.
“There’s 70,000 Americans living in Saudi Arabia right now, not to mention all the other troops we have throughout the region,” Kirby stated. “So, it’s not only in our interest that missile defense in the region become more integrated and cooperative. It’s in the interest of our allies and partners in that part of the world as well.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”