US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that President Joe Biden will act “in an orderly and methodical manner” in re-evaluating relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following the decision of the OPEC Plus group to reduce oil production, but his options include changes with regard to the security support provided by his country to the largest exporter for oil.
Jake Sullivan said that “Biden has no intention of meeting Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, during the G20 summit that takes place next month in Indonesia.”
Washington criticized Riyadh for its agreement with OPEC allies (OPEC Plus) to reduce oil production.
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said the decision was taken unanimously and for purely economic reasons. He tweeted that he was “surprised” by the accusations that Saudi Arabia was siding with Russia – its fellow oil producer – in its war with Ukraine.
Speaking on CNN, Sullivan said no changes were imminent in US-Saudi relations as Biden reassessed them.
“So the president will not act recklessly. He will act in a methodical and strategic manner and will take his time to consult with members of both parties, as well as give a chance until Congress returns (from recess), so that he can consult with them in person and work through the options.”
A day following the OPEC Plus group of oil producers announced production cuts in light of the objection of the United States, Biden pledged to impose “consequences” on Saudi Arabia for siding with Russia in supporting the cuts.
The OPEC Plus move undermines Western countries’ plans to impose a ceiling on Russian oil export prices, in response to Moscow’s war once morest Ukraine.
photo released, Getty Images
Sullivan said Biden has no intention of meeting the Saudi crown prince during the G-20 summit
US Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for most US arms sales to Saudi Arabia to be halted following the OPEC+ move.
Asked if Biden would view Russia’s use of a small tactical nuclear weapon, or the detonation of one of those weapons in the Black Sea, as less dangerous than a larger bomb, Sullivan said it was “dangerous” to make such distinctions, and the president would not do so. .
“Using a nuclear weapon on the battlefield in Ukraine is using a nuclear weapon on the battlefield in Ukraine,” he added. “We will not cut the sausage into slices,” he added.
He said it fell to NATO allies and other responsible countries, including China and India, “to send a clear and decisive message to Russia that they should not consider the use of nuclear weapons in this conflict.”
