A U. S. official scoffed at a comment by a Saudi prince that the White House acted immaturely, the latest consecutive exchange between nations over oil.
“It’s like a romance of the best school here,” said John Kirthrough, communications coordinator for the National Security Council, when asked about a comment by Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
The prince had criticized the White House for increasing some of its vast oil reserves to reduce prices, calling the move childish and describing Saudi Arabia as the “most mature” country.
Kirby wasn’t happy. ” We are talking about a meaningful, bilateral relationship, a partnership that has survived more than 80 years,” he said. from this relationship, to the way we look at it. “
The backdrop to the dispute is the October resolution through Saudi Arabia and other oil producers to cut output and keep costs high. The resolution is at direct odds with the White House’s purpose of reducing oil costs and controlling inflation.
However, on Wednesday, a New York Times report added a non-public detail to the dispute, suggesting that the Saudis privately told U. S. officials they would stockpile supplies, the exact opposite of what happened.
According to the Times, U. S. officials thought they had secured a deal to increase production and rushed unsuccessfully at the last minute to save it when they learned of OPEC’s planned cut.
“I think we, as Saudi Arabia, have to be the most mature guys and roll the dice,” Abdulaziz said at a summit of foreign investors in Riyadh this week, according to Reuters.
Some Democrats have interpreted it as a political move by the Saudis, aimed at hurting Republicans in the midterm elections, where their candidates face Republican attacks over high fuel prices.
President Joe Biden is lately seeking to cut off Russian oil exports, which are important for keeping his economy afloat, in punishment for the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
The Saudi resolution to side with Russia in cutting materials is a slap in the face for Biden, and comes after he risked a backlash from his own party against Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in July.
In reaction to the announced cut, some Democrats have suggested Biden keep his crusading promise to isolate the crown prince from Saudi Arabia’s murder of dissident Jamal Khashoggi and its war in Yemen.
Biden said there would be “consequences” for Saudi Arabia in its resolution to cut off oil supplies, but did not specify what those consequences would be.
Saudi officials said OPEC’s resolution was only based on the economy.