Biden’s management is delaying military aid promised to Saudi Arabia in reaction to the Gulf country’s resolve to cut oil production, the resources told NBC News.
This can come only with deliveries of Patriot MIM-104E guided ballistic missiles, of which Saudi Arabia has a $300 acquisition contract from the United States. to the report
Sources told NBC that some military officers have the idea, while others argue that military relations between the two countries deserve to be separated from the oil conflict.
Some advisers have raised considerations that hampering the source of Patriot missiles could endanger U. S. troops and civilians in the Gulf nation, NBC News said.
The OPEC organization of oil-producing countries, of which Saudi Arabia and Russia are two of the largest, said earlier this month it would cut oil production by two million barrels per day, pushing harder.
The move angered the White House, which suffers from inflation and drives down gas prices.
In an interview with CNN earlier this month, President Joe Biden said, “There will be consequences for what they did with Russia. “
Biden visited Saudi Arabia in July, after which White House aides believed they had struck a secret deal with Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman to increase oil production, according to a New York Times report.
However, Salman surprised them by backtracking and pronouncing the resolution to reduce oil production instead, leaving White House officials furious.
According to NBC News, Biden’s management is contemplating various features to respond to Saudi Arabia, but several sources say they probably won’t make a decision for some time.
In addition to hampering the army’s aid, the option is to exclude Saudi Arabia from upcoming army trainings and regional engagements, the outlet said.
Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, had in the past advised moving U. S. air defense systems to the U. S. Air Defense Department. UU. de Saudi Arabia to Ukraine in reaction to the oil decision.
“There has to be a balance between punishing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and making life more complicated or harmful for the United States,” a U. S. official told NBC.