Dueling statements from Washington and Riyadh in recent days over last week’s OPEC+ decision to cut production underscore just how badly the US-Saudi relationship has deteriorated under President Joe Biden, with each side accusing the other of acting in bad faith.
That frustration is shared by the Saudis. One Gulf official said there’s a real sense of grievance that the US didn’t help Saudi Arabia during periods of low oil prices but is asking for its help now that it wants to keep prices from rising ahead of next month’s US midterm elections and amid the struggle to deprive Russian President Vladimir Putin of oil revenue.
Despite some calls in Congress to curb Saudi purchases of US weapons, the administration is pushing back against any restrictions on arms sales to the kingdom, said Scott Modell, managing director of Rapidan Energy Group. However dissatisfied the Saudis may be with delays in delivery of US weapons or assistance due to the war in Ukraine, “they have to grin and bear it” because there’s no substitute for the US when it comes to defense and security, he said.
And regardless of the security implications, some members of Congress are growing more impatient, looking at arms sales as an important way to exact retribution whether the White House wants to or not.
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