Senior U.S. senator wants 'freeze' on Saudi cooperation including most arms sales, blasts Riyadh

[beijingwalker]

Senior U.S. senator wants 'freeze' on Saudi cooperation including most arms sales, blasts Riyadh​

By Patricia Zengerle
October 11, 20228:00 AM GMT+8

WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The Democratic chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee called on Monday for a freeze on cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including most arms sales, accusing the kingdom of helping underwrite the Russian war on Ukraine after OPEC+ announced last week it would cut oil production.

The Saudi-led OPEC+ cartel agreed to cut output by an amount equal to about 2% of global supply, curbing production in a tight market and raising the possibility of higher gasoline prices as Washington seeks to limit Russia's energy revenue after its invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, rebuked the group's cut as "shortsighted" as the world deals with the impacts of Russia's war, the White House said.

Senator Bob Menendez called for aggressive action in another sign of the growing rift between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

"The United States must immediately freeze all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including any arms sales and security cooperation beyond what is absolutely necessary to defend U.S. personnel and interests," Menendez said in a statement.

"I will not green-light any cooperation with Riyadh until the Kingdom reassesses its position with respect to the war in Ukraine. Enough is enough," Menendez said.

Menendez said he was horrified about attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

"There simply is no room to play both sides of this conflict – either you support the rest of the free world in trying to stop a war criminal from violently wiping off an entire country off of the map, or you support him," Menendez said in an apparent reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chose the latter in a terrible decision driven by economic self-interest."

The Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Oil prices leapt to a five-week high on Friday, two days after the OPEC+ cut, but slipped on Monday, with international benchmark Brent crude settling about 1.8% down at $96.19 a barrel on worries about a potential global recession.

High oil prices are a vulnerability for Biden's fellow Democrats in the Nov. 8 U.S. midterm elections, when they are defending their control of Congress.

The leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees review major international arms deals, which generally do not go ahead without their approval.

Saudi Arabia is the largest customer for U.S.-made military equipment.

Senior U.S. senator wants 'freeze' on Saudi cooperation, blasts Riyadh

The Democratic chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee called on Monday for a freeze on cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including most arms sales, accusing the kingdom of helping underwrite the Russian war on Ukraine after OPEC+ announced last week it would cut oil production.

www.reuters.com

 

[aviator_fan]

There is a missile shield meeting that US was going to participate in next week with GCC countries that I understand they will not join.

 

[beijingwalker]

Senior US senator blasts Riyadh for ‘supporting a war criminal’, wants ‘freeze’ on Saudi cooperation​

By Reuters News Service
October 11, 2022

The Democratic chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee called for a freeze on cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including most arms sales, accusing the kingdom of helping underwrite the Russian war on Ukraine after OPEC+ announced last week it would cut oil production.

The Saudi-led OPEC+ cartel agreed to cut output by an amount equal to about 2% of global supply, curbing production in a tight market and raising the possibility of higher gasoline prices as Washington seeks to limit Russia’s energy revenue after its invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, rebuked the group’s cut as “shortsighted” as the world deals with the impacts of Russia’s war, the White House said.

Senator Bob Menendez called for aggressive action in another sign of the growing rift between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

“The United States must immediately freeze all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including any arms sales and security cooperation beyond what is absolutely necessary to defend U.S. personnel and interests,” Menendez said in a statement.

“I will not green-light any cooperation with Riyadh until the Kingdom reassesses its position with respect to the war in Ukraine. Enough is enough,” Menendez said.

Menendez said he was horrified about attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

“There simply is no room to play both sides of this conflict – either you support the rest of the free world in trying to stop a war criminal from violently wiping off an entire country off of the map, or you support him,” Menendez said in an apparent reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chose the latter in a terrible decision driven by economic self-interest.”

The Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Oil prices leapt to a five-week high on Friday, two days after the OPEC+ cut, but slipped on Monday, with international benchmark Brent crude settling about 1.8% down at $96.19 a barrel on worries about a potential global recession. O/R

High oil prices are a vulnerability for Biden’s fellow Democrats in the Nov. 8 U.S. midterm elections, when they are defending their control of Congress.

The leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees review major international arms deals, which generally do not go ahead without their approval.

Saudi Arabia is the largest customer for U.S.-made military equipment.

Senior US senator blasts Riyadh for 'supporting a war criminal', wants 'freeze' on Saudi cooperation | Cyprus Mail

The Democratic chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee called for a freeze on cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including most arms sales, accusing the kingdom of helping underwrite the Russian war on Ukraine after OPEC+ announced last week it would cut oil production. The Saudi-led...

cyprus-mail.com

 

[Menthol]

I don't know if this is true or just a drama.

But USA is going to be hugely profitable.

The only one who is screwed, is EU.


If USA really cares about EU, then increase USA oil production.

 

[Meengla]

I don't know if this is true or just a drama. But USA is going to be hugely profitable. The only one who is screwed, is EU.
If USA really cares about EU, then increase USA oil production.

The Ukraine-Russia war is a HUGE profit making opportunity for America. Once again, the Europeans are screwed because they can't rise above their petty ethnic and religious divides. It is not a coincidence that the two greatest wars the world has seen were based in Europe. And this may well be the start of World War III. The Effing neocons in Washington will destroy the world for a profit. How many 3rd world countries got freedom because of the two Great Wars? And how many will become more independent because of WW III, that is if humanity survives??

Coming back to the topic, if the stupid neocons in Washington--who are 'bipartisan'-- go too far in punishing Saudi Arabia then I foresee the Saudis making peace with Iran. Yup, the two shortsighted Mullah Regimes can become friends.

 

[Genghis khan1]

US is the largest oil producer but it’s economy isn’t dependent on oil exports. Russians and Saudis are factoring in up coming recession and low oil demand. Therefore they need higher oil prices to reduce any budget shortfalls.

US politics and establishment is mostly anti-Arab, anti-muzlims, so they will find any reason to screw over Saudis.

 

[WarKa DaNG]

Isn't the US one of the top oil producers and imports large amount of oil from Canada? Or else they are looking for another drama

 

[Easy When]

Think it's a ploy on the USA's part to get Saudi's to buy more arms. Worry them enough that their relationship is looking perilous and Saudi's will be panicked in to buying more military hardware to repair the relationship.

 

[nahtanbob]

The Ukraine-Russia war is a HUGE profit making opportunity for America. Once again, the Europeans are screwed because they can't rise above their petty ethnic and religious divides. It is not a coincidence that the two greatest wars the world has seen were based in Europe. And this may well be the start of World War III. The Effing neocons in Washington will destroy the world for a profit. How many 3rd world countries got freedom because of the two Great Wars? And how many will become more independent because of WW III, that is if humanity survives??

Coming back to the topic, if the stupid neocons in Washington--who are 'bipartisan'-- go too far in punishing Saudi Arabia then I foresee the Saudis making peace with Iran. Yup, the two shortsighted Mullah Regimes can become friends.

you are a reasonable dude. You are telling that Pakistanis have the right to emigrate to the EU while citizens of Ukraine be denied the same right.
Europe is united on Ukraine. They are economic costs in the short to intermediate term. This is the price of depending on Russia for energy.

 

[SQ8]

The Ukraine-Russia war is a HUGE profit making opportunity for America. Once again, the Europeans are screwed because they can't rise above their petty ethnic and religious divides. It is not a coincidence that the two greatest wars the world has seen were based in Europe. And this may well be the start of World War III. The Effing neocons in Washington will destroy the world for a profit. How many 3rd world countries got freedom because of the two Great Wars? And how many will become more independent because of WW III, that is if humanity survives??

Coming back to the topic, if the stupid neocons in Washington--who are 'bipartisan'-- go too far in punishing Saudi Arabia then I foresee the Saudis making peace with Iran. Yup, the two shortsighted Mullah Regimes can become friends.

Unlikely - two Mullah’s can never be friends. They can align for a while on issues but that is that.

Or rather, the Persian Empire and Arabs cannot be allied. Too much bad blood and history between them.

Neocons however, cannot achieve much and a single senator does nothing. The Saudi lobby is too well entrenched.

 

[_Nabil_]

Great news if true, Less trillions spent in vain for the arms factories in USA

 

[SaadH]

Saudis have bankrolled US economy and its war machine for the last 50 years. This is easier said then done.

Without Saudi petrodollar backing it, the greenbacks would be worth less than toilet paper.

 

[Novus ordu seclorum]

USA has a right to be angry. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, America put it's own on the ground to defend Saudi Arabia and liberate Kuwait. USA did not play both sides to draw maximum benefit.

 

[dbc]

Saudis have bankrolled US economy and its war machine for the last 50 years. This is easier said then done.

Without Saudi petrodollar backing it, the greenbacks would be worth less than toilet paper.

Between 2014 and 2018 total arms sales equalled 11.5 billion $'s. Its peanuts for a 20 plus trillion dollar economy. Get an education. Oh! and just to emphasis your stupidity Microsoft makes close to 200 billion $s a year in revenue.

 

[casual]

Between 2014 and 2018 total arms sales equalled 11.5 billion $'s. Its peanuts for a 20 plus trillion dollar economy. Get an education. Oh! and just to emphasis your stupidity Microsoft makes 200 billion $ a year in revenue.

seems like you are the uneducated one. he's talking about petrodollar, not arms sales.