OPEC

2022 - 10 - 6

Post cover
Image courtesy of "ABC News"

OPEC cuts oil production to drive up oil prices, ASX and Wall Street ... (ABC News)

Saudi Arabia and Russia are on a collision course with the West after major oil producers cut oil production to drive up prices. The move could increase ...

'We are providing security, stability to energy markets." The Saudi Energy Minister said the real cuts would be 1 million to 1.1 million barrels of oil a day. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Index fell 0.1 per cent, to 30,274, the S&P 500 index lost 0.2 per cent, to 3,783, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3 per cent, to 11,149. However, the production cuts will be less than 2 million barrels of oil a day in reality because of under-production. Rising oil and fuel prices are a risk to Mr Biden's Democratic Party as it seeks to retain control of Congress in the November 8 midterm elections. "The president is disappointed by the short-sighted decision by OPEC+ to cut production quotas while the global economy is dealing with the continued negative impact of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's invasion of Ukraine," the White House said. Those cuts are the biggest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and block efforts by the US and Europe to reduce the revenue that Russia earns from the sale of its crude oil. The White House said that US President Joe Biden had directed the Department of Energy to release for sale extra supply from the country's strategic oil reserves. The Saudi-led coalition ignored pleas from the White House to keep oil flowing, and said the agreement would remain in place until the end of next year, unless the market changed. Saudi Arabia said the production cuts were necessary to respond to rising interest rates and a weaker global economy. Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies, including Russia, have decided to cut oil output by 2 million barrels a day, equal to 2 per cent of global supply. The world's major oil producers have agreed to steep production cuts to drive up prices, inflaming diplomatic tensions with the US, which called the surprise decision "short-sighted", and accused Saudi Arabia of aligning with Russia.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NEWS.com.au"

'I'm not talking to you': Saudi prince erupts (NEWS.com.au)

Oil cartel OPEC and its Russian-led allies have announced a major cut in output.

OPEC is laughing at him,” House of Representatives Minority Whip Steve Scalise wrote on social media. Oil prices had slid in recent weeks back to the levels before the war in Ukraine on concerns of a global slowdown, but have surged in recent days on expectations of the production cut. Stream your news live & on demand with Flash. From CNN International, Al Jazeera, Sky News, BBC World, CNBC & more. Mr Biden’s political opponents piled on with criticism. A Saudi prince has snapped at a journalist at a press conference as the OPEC cartel announced it would cut oil production.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "TheBull.com.au"

The OPEC Political Hot Potato (TheBull.com.au)

Pull up a chair as the chunky OPEC production cut is bound to turn into a political hot potato. MARKETS. US equities were a touch weaker Wednesday, ...

The FX market is running with signs the US rates are topping, so as long as cross-assets risks perform well, the dollar safe-haven premium will erode, causing traders to pare back long dollar bets, but the opposite will continue to hold. But the highest estimate is 389k while the lowest is 199 Right now, the oil complex is busy gauging the complexities of the actual cut while factoring in the misalignments between the production and quota. Second, they maintain that the world is too short of spare capacity and that oil prices must be higher (especially relative to other energy prices) to incentivize appropriate investment. Energy stocks benefited from OPEC production cuts announced in Vienna, boosting the oil rally further. US10yr yields closed 11bps higher to 3.74% as the oil price inflation premium weighs on fixed income concerns.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "SBS"

Petrol prices expected to rise after OPEC nations agree to major cut ... (SBS)

The decision to cut oil output by a larger-than-expected 2 million barrels per day starting in November is expected to increase the price of petrol around ...

The trip saw Biden meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite his promise to make Riyadh a "pariah" following the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. OPEC+ began to raise production last year after the market improved. Mr Biden travelled to Saudi Arabia in July in part to convince the kingdom to loosen the production taps. The oil production cut could give sanctions-hit Russia a boost ahead of a European Union ban on most of its crude exports later this year and as the Group of Seven wealthy democracies mull a cap on the country's oil prices. Saudi Arabia, Russia and other top oil producers agreed on a major cut in production to boost crude prices - a move denounced by the United States as a concession to Moscow that will further hurt the global economy. The 13-nation OPEC cartel headed by Riyadh and its 10 allies led by Moscow agreed to reduce output by two million barrels per day from November at a meeting in Vienna, the group said in a statement.

OPEC : 33rd OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (OPEC)

The 45th Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) and the 33rd OPEC and Non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting took place in person at the OPEC ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Forbes"

OPEC Thumbs Its Nose At President Biden (Forbes)

Oil prices have been rising since the pandemic-related production disruption in 2020. That price rise accelerated when Russia invaded Ukraine. In an effort to ...

At a time when maintaining a global supply of energy is of paramount importance, this decision will have the most negative impact on lower- and middle-income countries that are already reeling from elevated energy prices." Further — at least with the Saudis — they would probably rather deal with Republicans. Their objective is to maximize the value of the oil they have in the ground. Further — with 35% of the world’s 2021 oil production — OPEC holds the trump card. OPEC and non-OPEC allies — generally referred to as OPEC+ — agreed at this week’s meeting in Vienna to reduce production by 2 million BPD from November levels. To the extent that the SPR drawdown reduced oil prices, it cost OPEC money.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Biden administration angered by Opec+ oil output cut (The Guardian)

Senior figures see decision as a slight on the US and a sign that the oil producers club is aligning with Russia.

“It’s not a break with the west because relations were broken already. “So I think the Saudis know that the US isn’t going to be pleased with this, but they don’t much care.” It is possible that the production cut will not have a big impact on prices. “The Opec nations do not want to be in a position of providing too many barrels to a global economy that goes soft on them,” Hirs added. And good luck with that,”” Malinowski “I think it is a mistake on their part.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Australian Financial Review"

OPEC, US data keep Fed on course for steep rate rises (The Australian Financial Review)

Resilient US economic data dashed hopes the Federal Reserve would temper its aggressive tightening, while a drop in oil production will boost inflation.

Against its US counterpart, the $A rose 0.7 per cent to US65.30¢. “We consider the FOMC will increase interest rates high enough to push the US economy into recession next year,” said Mr Capurso. [slowing the pace of interest rate rises with a smaller-than-expected quarter-percentage-point lift. San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank president Mary Daly said the central bank was “resolute” on raising rates to bring down inflation and sees a high bar to delivering less than another 0.75-percentage-point increase next month. Meanwhile, the ISM employment gauge jumped to 53, from 50.2, in the prior month. The central bank raised interest rates by 0.75 percentage point at its last three policy meetings. Economists expect the US economy to have created 260,000 new jobs last month. When short-term borrowing costs exceed those in the longer-term, that reliably suggests an economic contraction within one to two years. Email Cecile at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) US Treasury yields regained ground with the 2-year government bond rate, which is sensitive to interest rate expectations, up 6 basis points to 4.15 per cent. The 10-year yield jumped 13 basis points to 3.75 per cent. [Cecile Lefort](/by/cecile-lefort-p4ywcg)is a markets reporter based in the Sydney newsroom.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Foreign Policy"

Why Did OPEC Slash Oil Production? (Foreign Policy)

The Biden administration has accused OPEC+, a cartel of top oil producers, of siding with Russia after the group decided to slash oil production in order to ...

[humanitarian consequences](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/oct/04/yemen-ceasefire-truce-deadline-charities-houthis). Afterward, officials apologized and vowed to [investigate](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/05/south-korea-missile-drill-crash-gangneung/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_world) what happened. [abducted](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/23-hostages-from-nigeria-passenger-train-reported-freed/2022/10/05/b17ae2b6-44d9-11ed-be17-89cbe6b8c0a5_story.html) more than half a year ago while aboard a train in Nigeria have now been released, Nigerian officials said on Wednesday. [Houthi rebels](https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-yemen-sanaa-houthis-308e604fabc9ed568c4d9cfed1aa7e79) to [compromise](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-should-be-more-flexible-over-truce-deal-says-us-envoy-2022-10-05/) in cease-fire negotiations, after the involved parties missed the [Oct. 2 deadline](https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-united-nations-yemen-civil-wars-sanaa-ba7d97673e3330ba85a34e6b11560c31) to extend the original truce. “In our culture you give a girl you like a cow.” [Nika Shahkarami](https://www.wsj.com/articles/iran-protests-erupt-anew-after-a-teenage-protesters-death-11664993771), was found dead after attending a protest. After facing backlash, he encouraged Kenyans to “relax.” No one has owned up to the March train attack, which killed seven people. In July, he made a controversial trip to Saudi Arabia that ended with a highly criticized [fist bump](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-62189543) with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who spearheaded OPEC+’s latest move. Lots of police vans are waiting outside to arrest students,” a student told [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/04/politics/white-house-lobby-opec-oil-production-cuts-gasoline-prices-midterms/index.html) reported.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

OPEC Plus oil production cut fuels fears of economic recession in ... (The Washington Post)

European economists worried about a heightened risk of recession and a bolstered Russia, after OPEC Plus said it will slash oil production.

In Greece, a top government member expressed public admiration for the crown prince’s “leadership” and “vision.” And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz [visited the kingdom](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220924-germany-s-scholz-in-saudi-arabia-on-gulf-energy-hunt) only days ago. and G-7 officials will meet to set the price, adjusting the level in response to market conditions, according to E.U. [blackouts](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/05/europe-blackouts-energy-crisis-ukraine-russia/?itid=lk_inline_manual_15) and the narrowing of European companies’ profit margins. In the medium-term, those setbacks could test Europe’s resolve to support Ukraine. Russia may decide to keep its oil off the market rather than selling at the cap price, further curtailing supply. But as “global oil prices will increase with this OPEC Plus decision, some countries might have greater incentive to go for discounted Russian crude,” wrote Tagliapietra. While the production cut is expected to increase prices at European gas stations, the extent of the rise was not immediately clear. The U.S. [tried to shield consumers ](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2022/gas-prices-around-the-world/?itid=lk_inline_manual_12)from rising gas prices through subsidies and tax breaks. Member states will need to unanimously approve the decision. Just hours before the OPEC Plus decision, E.U. The E.U.'s industrial powerhouse, Germany, reported a worse-than-anticipated decline in

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Net Newsledger"

NetNewsLedger - OPEC Votes to Cut Oil Production by Two Million ... (Net Newsledger)

This move will likely see increased prices for gasoline and diesel fuel as well over the winter of the price of heating oil. The North American benchmark West ...

This move will likely see increased prices for gasoline and diesel fuel as well over the winter of the price of heating oil. In this move to cut oil production, OPEC is hoping to see the price of oil increase. This move by the twenty-three member alliance of oil producing countries to reduce production by two million barrels per day could increase crude oil prices globally.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CNBC"

U.S. delivers angry rebuke of massive OPEC+ production cut — and ... (CNBC)

Energy analysts believe the deep production cuts could yet backfire for OPEC kingpin and U.S. ally Saudi Arabia.

[In a statement](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/10/05/statement-from-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-and-nec-director-brian-deese/), the White House said Biden was "disappointed by the shortsighted decision by OPEC+ to cut production quotas while the global economy is dealing with the continued negative impact of Putin's invasion of Ukraine." The trip was part of an effort to improve diplomatic ties with Riyadh, which collapsed after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. And so perception is 90% of the law. And the perception is the Saudis are not holding up their end of the bargain," he said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Washington has made its views clear to OPEC members. White House opposition to NOPEC has served as a restraining influence on Congressional leaders," they continued. OPEC and non-OPEC allies, a group often referred to as OPEC+, agreed on Wednesday to reduce oil production by 2 million barrels per day from November. Asked whether he was specifically disappointed with U.S. Energy security has a price as well." Strategists led by Helima Croft at RBC Capital Markets said that while the U.S. The U.S. [Brent](/quotes/@LCO.1/) crude futures traded at $93.55 a barrel during Thursday morning deals in London, up around 0.2%.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "E&E News"

U.S.-Saudi relations take a hit as OPEC cuts oil production (E&E News)

Analysts say the decision by Saudi-led OPEC — and the Biden administration's reaction — underscores the depths of a widening rift between the countries.

“If you accelerate the technology shift away from oil and reduce the cost of that shift, all the world will be able to afford it — not just the rich countries.” Attempts by oil-consuming countries to try and set the price of oil represents a direct threat to OPEC’s ability to direct oil markets, they said. “To do that a month before the election in the U.S. In a note, ClearView said the bill could attract enough support to overcome a filibuster. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi minister of energy, bristled at a question about whether OPEC was weaponizing oil prices. Roger Diwan, an analyst who tracks oil markets at IHS Markit, said OPEC had an economic rationale for cutting production amid rising interest rates in the United States, sky-high energy prices in Europe and mounting fears of a global recession. OPEC has met virtually since the onset of the pandemic. Its relationships in Asia have become a lot more important, and I think the U.S. Analysts said the moves underscored the depths of the gulf between Washington and Riyadh. But recent years have flipped the relationship on its head, and relations have been strained by differences over the Arab Spring, the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and conflicting approaches to a spiraling energy crisis. Biden administration officials expressed disappointment in the move and signaled they were open to working with Congress on legislation that would enable the government to bring an antitrust suit against the oil cartel. “The assumptions have changed.”

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Common Dreams"

After OPEC Move, Sanders Says US Must 'Eliminate Military ... (Common Dreams)

Sen. Bernie Sanders accused Saudi-led OPEC of a "blatant attempt to increase gas prices at the pump."

A month earlier, Reuters reported that the Biden administration was [considering](https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/07/11/outrage-biden-reportedly-considers-lifting-ban-offensive-arms-sales-saudi-arabia) lifting its ban on "offensive" weapons sales to the Saudis. Free to share. military support for Saudi Arabia in response to OPEC's coming production cut, blasting the petrostate as a "third-rate power" that is "hurting the American people." Free to republish. Free to read. military assistance to the Saudis. "As we build our clean energy future, we must stand up to the oil-soaked global cartel that seeks to abuse its power to raise prices and boost their profits," Markey said in a statement. troops and missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), another OPEC member. military aid to Saudi Arabia after the kingdom and other major oil-producing nations agreed to slash output by two million barrels a day, a move that could significantly drive up gas prices worldwide as a To inspire. To inform. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday called for an end to U.S.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Vanity Fair"

Democrats Call to Punish Saudi Arabia Over OPEC's Oil Cutbacks (Vanity Fair)

Lawmakers are demanding that the US withdraw its military from the cartel leader over its decision, which stands to put Russia on better footing.

[steadily increase](https://apnews.com/article/biden-approval-rating-poll-bf41fe8b0016bf8aaf144e7310c6539f). We haven’t made up our mind yet.” His comments come one day after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre [accused](https://www.ft.com/content/64d35a40-5144-44f6-afca-c8b88c9d0ad5) OPEC of “aligning with Russia.” Shortly before OPEC announced its decision on Wednesday, the White House reportedly [sought to dissuade](https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/04/politics/white-house-lobby-opec-oil-production-cuts-gasoline-prices-midterms/index.html) OPEC from production cuts, warning the bloc that such a move could qualify as a “hostile act.” [boon for Russia](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-10-05/opec-output-cut-putin-finally-finds-a-true-friend-saudi-arabia), the world’s third-largest oil producer. [remarks](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biden-energy-adviser-downplays-opec-135944725.html) at the White House on Thursday, the president described OPEC’s decision as a “disappointment” but stood by his diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia over the summer to address the energy crisis. [introduced a bill](https://twitter.com/seancasten/status/1578005749871026177?s=12&t=xkUXfgylnigLQhyCbnKsSg) on Thursday that would pull US troops and weapons systems out of Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of OPEC, and the United Arab Emirates, another top oil producer. Americans could feel the effects of the decision around [roughly the same time](https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/first-read/opec-decision-raise-gas-prices-home-midterm-elections-approach-rcna50990) they will be casting their midterm ballots. “I’m deeply disappointed by the Saudi decision and wish they would act more like an ally during current conditions, but this is Joe Biden's fault.” GOP representative Jim Jordan echoed, [tweeting](https://twitter.com/jim_jordan/status/1577752052956119053) that the US would not “need to rely on OPEC if Joe Biden opened up American oil and drilled domestically.” With US gas prices hitting a new record high earlier this year, Republicans have used the issue as a political cudgel throughout the midterms, blaming the spike on Biden’s federal policies despite the numerous global factors that determine the cost of oil. [Lessons From the Latest Celebrity Cheating Scandal](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/09/no-more-mr-wife-guy?itm_content=footer-recirc&itm_campaign=more-great-stories-092822) [Emma D’Arcy Takes the Targaryen Crown](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/house-of-the-dragon-emma-darcy-rhaenyra?itm_content=footer-recirc&itm_campaign=more-great-stories-092822) But OPEC’s sudden 2% drop in global oil production could counteract this plan by driving the price of oil up and making desperate consumers more reliant on Russian gas. [originates](https://twitter.com/SeanCasten/status/1578006101123104769) from. [concluded](https://twitter.com/SeanCasten/status/1578006101123104769).

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Independent Tribune"

Biden calls OPEC production cuts a 'disappointment' (Independent Tribune)

President Joe Biden calls the decision by OPEC+ to cut oil production a "disappointment," but says the White House is exploring "alternatives.

Biden made the comments as he departed the White House for New York, where he will tour and IBM facility and deliver remarks on jobs. The comments come as major oil producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia have decided to slash the amount of oil they deliver to the global economy. Biden didn't expand on what the alternatives might include as he departed the White House for New York, saying only, "There's a lot of alternatives.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "E&E News"

U.S.-Saudi relations take a hit as OPEC cuts oil production (E&E News)

Analysts say the decision by Saudi-led OPEC — and the Biden administration's reaction — underscores the depths of a widening rift between the countries.

“If you accelerate the technology shift away from oil and reduce the cost of that shift, all the world will be able to afford it — not just the rich countries.” Attempts by oil-consuming countries to try and set the price of oil represents a direct threat to OPEC’s ability to direct oil markets, they said. “To do that a month before the election in the U.S. In a note, ClearView said the bill could attract enough support to overcome a filibuster. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi minister of energy, bristled at a question about whether OPEC was weaponizing oil prices. Roger Diwan, an analyst who tracks oil markets at IHS Markit, said OPEC had an economic rationale for cutting production amid rising interest rates in the United States, sky-high energy prices in Europe and mounting fears of a global recession. OPEC has met virtually since the onset of the pandemic. Its relationships in Asia have become a lot more important, and I think the U.S. Analysts said the moves underscored the depths of the gulf between Washington and Riyadh. But recent years have flipped the relationship on its head, and relations have been strained by differences over the Arab Spring, the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and conflicting approaches to a spiraling energy crisis. Biden administration officials expressed disappointment in the move and signaled they were open to working with Congress on legislation that would enable the government to bring an antitrust suit against the oil cartel. “The assumptions have changed.”

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Proactive Investors Australia"

FIVE at FIVE AU: Will stage 3 tax cuts happen; OPEC wants to drive ... (Proactive Investors Australia)

With the future of work undeniably hybrid and remote, employers need to look at how they can better support their teams to work to their...

Hattingh continued: “In saying that, working from the office some of the time is not without value. "Our latest report supports this as 78% of knowledge workers agree that these arrangements help to ease the cost of living. It is important to care about employees' financial health and overall wellbeing in the current economic climate, and one of the ways to do this is by giving trust and freedom,” Employment Hero chief people officer Alex Hattingh said. They are also more likely to have investments in stock and/or cryptocurrency (27%). “Currently, we’re seeing renewed interest in our crude oil CFDs as speculators try to get ahead of a potential supply squeeze. "No responsible government can ignore a high and rising inflation, a deteriorating global situation, or the fact that we have got these persistent structural pressures on the budget … According to our research, some employees still see the benefit of working in an office environment, with 37% of employees stating that their productivity levels are better when working in a hybrid environment and 33% saying their productivity benefits from working in the office. 61% of millennials said they would quit. The S&P/ASX200 was down just 1.80 points to 6,817.50. This trend could potentially not continue following OPEC’s overnight decision to cut production by two million barrels. There is evidence that remote work provides benefits that an office attendance mandate simply can’t match. "My job, as the treasurer of this country, is to make sure that the budget is on as sustainable footing as it can be to deal with the challenges that we anticipate.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Biden's Choice After OPEC Cuts: Woo Saudi Arabia, or Retaliate? (The New York Times)

The announcement by the Saudi-led OPEC Plus energy cartel that it would slash oil production was widely seen in Washington as a stab in the back of ...

“And the president needs to encourage investors to invest in the oil business.” The bill was more a statement than anything else since Congress is out of session until the election, but Mr. He introduced a bill with Representatives Sean Casten and Susan Wild, Democrats from Illinois and Pennsylvania, requiring the removal of American troops and defensive systems from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. But in a statement, the White House emphasized that “there are no plans to change our sanctions policy without constructive steps from the Maduro regime.” “The trip was not essentially for oil,” the president said. Easing sanctions on Iran and Venezuela could free up more than a million barrels of oil a day, which would help lower prices and potentially replace some of the Russian barrels now sold to Chinese and Indian refineries. He has already ordered more oil to be released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but since the reserve is now at its lowest level in four decades, that risks shortages in case of war or a natural disaster like another hurricane. The Saudis maintain that the production cut was not meant as a shot at Mr. Ron Klain, the White House chief of staff, has methodically tracked the price at the pump for months as it has declined, and Democrats felt renewed momentum as a result. “We’re not announcing any steps on that front, but there are measures that we will continue to assess,” Brian Deese, the president’s national economic adviser, told reporters. “We are looking at all the legislative tools to best deal with this appalling and deeply cynical action.” Biden said that “we are looking at alternatives” to oil from OPEC Plus countries.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Sky News Australia"

OPEC oil cuts cause pressure in US (Sky News Australia)

The US is expecting more pain at the petrol pump as OPEC decides to cut oil production. The White House says President Joe Biden is disappointed as other ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

Biden's Saudi trip faces new scrutiny after OPEC oil cut (The Washington Post)

Biden's awkward trip to Saudi Arabia in July was justified as necessary to boost ties. Now OPEC's decision to slash production is prompting recriminations.

Biden officials across a wide section of the administration — including the Energy Department, State Department and the National Economic Council — raced Thursday to draw up policy responses to the announcement. White House officials have strongly denied that the goal of the trip was to spur Saudi oil production. officials argued to Saudi counterparts that the risks of letting the price fall below that point were minimal, but the Saudis would not budge, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations. officials now fear a “return to war,” Tim Lenderking, the U.S. McGurk and Hochstein’s support for the trip began to gain favor in the White House in September 2021, as the price of oil rose and resentment in the Gulf led the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to rebuff repeated U.S. requests to increase oil output, according to senior officials and congressional aides familiar with the matter. Biden’s top aides on Middle East and energy, Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, pushed for the trip as a means to strengthen the relationship and improve Washington’s ability to project influence in the Middle East at a time when oil-rich states were exploring ties with Moscow and Beijing, according to U.S. officials and congressional aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. “There was consensus across the President’s senior national security team on the importance of this trip to advance U.S. Biden had declared that human rights would be at the “center” of his foreign policy, and he said he would make the oil-rich monarchy a “pariah.” But the president also remained keenly aware of the burden soaring gas prices were having on middle-class Americans. Other officials said they did not interpret malice in the Saudi decision, but they viewed it as a shortsighted effort to maximize oil profits despite the economic and geopolitical consequences. The trip was about the Middle East and about Israel and rationalization of positions,” he told reporters.

Explore the last week