BECAUSE OF OIL!! US begins to discuss penalties for Saudi Arabia, includ...

US begins to discuss penalties for Saudi Arabia, including cuts in military aid.

Monday, October 31, 2022.

 

WASHINGTON - The United States (US) has begun discussing its plans to punish Saudi Arabia for the OPEC+ decision to cut oil production from November. The planned punishment includes cutting military aid to the kingdom.

A US official revealed this to the NBC news network. According to the official, Washington's move could include freezing deliveries of Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia.

The $3 billion deal, under which Riyadh will receive 300 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical Ballistic Missiles (GEM-T), was approved by Washington in August.

The deal is seen as important to Saudi Arabia, which needs missile supplies for its Patriot launcher system, as the country is often the target of missile and drone attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebel group.

The Houthis frequently attack the kingdom in response to long-running bombardment by Riyadh and its Arab coalition.

According to the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, another option on the US agenda is to exclude the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from upcoming military exercises and regional conferences, including those dedicated to efforts by the US and its allies to create a joint air defense system in the region.

However, two US officials and other informed sources indicated that no decision had yet been made in Washington.

According to them, much will depend on the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) summit in December, adding that if the meeting leads to an increase in oil production, Saudi Arabia could avoid US retaliation altogether.

According to an NBC report on Sunday (10/30/2022), several military leaders in the US are opposed to reducing defense cooperation with Riyadh.

They argue that leaving Saudi Arabia, which has been Washington's main ally in the Gulf for decades, without Patriot missiles and other American equipment, could endanger US troops and civilians in the country and destabilize the entire region.

According to a source in the US government, military commanders have shared those concerns with the Biden administration.

The US has been urging Saudi Arabia to increase oil production for months, saying lower oil prices would hurt Russia and make it harder for Moscow to finance its military operations in Ukraine.

However, the OPEC+ group, which includes Russia, angered Washington earlier this month by announcing their decision to cut oil output by two million barrels per day from November.

"There will be consequences," US President Joe Biden said while warning Saudi Arabia of the OPEC+ move.

When asked by CNN if it was time for Washington to reevaluate its relationship with Riyadh, Biden replied: "yes."

The Saudis have insisted that the oil production cut was a unanimous decision by OPEC+ members, made purely for economic reasons.

source : international.sindonews.com

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