Washington wants to continue the commercial and political collaboration with Riyadh
President Joe Biden takes part in a working session with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the royal palace in Jeddah/July 2022
The United States wants to continue working with Saudi Arabia despite surprising production cuts by some oil-producing countries, including the Saudi kingdom, a White House spokesman said Monday. “We don’t agree on everything, but we find ways to work together on issues that concern us,” said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council. Several large oil exporting countries, including Saudi Arabia, agreed on Sunday to drastically reduce their production starting in May. This drop in production “is not timely,” said John Kirby, who tried, however, to put into perspective the impact of these decisions. “It is not the same situation as last year,” he said, arguing that the price of oil has fallen last fall. “We are focusing on prices, not the number of barrels,” he added. Last October, an OPEC+ production cut drew much harsher criticism from the US executive. At that time, President Joe Biden even threatened “consequences” for the long relationship between the USA and Saudi Arabia, based on the sale of American weapons and Saudi oil. “We will not always agree with everything Saudi Arabia does or says, just as they will not always agree with everything we do or say, but that does not change the fact that it is a strategic relationship,” he emphasized John Kirby.
The Saudi government approved partial membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a political and security bloc that includes China, Russia, and India, the Saudi state news agency reported Wednesday. The decision comes ahead of a May meeting of foreign ministers from the regional grouping, where Iran recently gained full member status. The move is part of a broad effort in Saudi Arabia and some neighboring Persian Gulf countries to expand diplomatic partnerships beyond traditional Western allies in a marked pivot to the east, analysts say. It comes amid uncertainty about Washington’s long-term commitment to ensure security in the strategic, energy-rich region, where the U.S. has been a dominant force for decades but is increasingly focused on a rising China and a belligerent Russia. The SCO has historically had a heavy focus on regional security cooperation, and accelerated Saudi interactions with China and Russia risk backlash from the U.S., which is wary of its traditional security partners in the region cozying up to its global rivals. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Tuesday, reaffirming their strategic relationship, which Mr. Xi said was in “the best shape of all time,” according to Chinese state media. China is Saudi Arabia’s top trading partner. Besides oil, business has expanded to include large contracts for Chinese construction companies, widespread adoption of Chinese technology despite security concerns, and the transfer of military hardware such as drones and ballistic missiles. China is also helping the Saudis fabricate uranium yellowcake, which is needed for a nuclear energy program or nuclear-arms capability.
By Cora Sulleyman
