July 14, 2022
2 mins read

‘Hope Biden doesn’t turn Saudi Arabia against Russia’

Biden will make the case for greater oil production from OPEC nations to bring down gasoline prices when he meets Gulf leaders in Saudi Arabia this week…reports Asian Lite News

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that it hoped President Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia would not be used to try to foster anti-Russian relations, just as the United States seeks to convince Riyadh to boost oil production amid soaring prices.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday that Biden will make the case for greater oil production from OPEC nations to bring down gasoline prices when he meets Gulf leaders in Saudi Arabia this week.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said that Russia, the world’s second largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia and the world’s biggest exporter of natural gas, highly valued cooperation with Saudi Arabia within the framework of OPEC+ group of world’s leading oil producers.

“We are within the framework of the OPEC + agreements, and we highly appreciate the work that we manage to do with our partners, including with leading partners such as Saudi Arabia,” he told a daily conference call with reporters.

“We highly appreciate our relations and our interaction with Riyadh and we certainly hope that the building of relations and the development of relations between Riyadh and other world capitals will in no way be directed against us.”

As the world faces one of the worst energy supply crunches since the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s, Biden has repeatedly urged the OPEC+ and Saudi Arabia to lift oil production faster than the group is already doing.

But major Gulf producers have little spare production capacity.

ALSO READ:Mohammed Ali Al Yamahi being crowned as Arab Reading Champion

Oil and gas exports, which constitute a significant share Russia’s state budget income, are the centrepiece of Moscow’s response to the sanctions the West has imposed over the conflict in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Friday that continued sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine risked triggering catastrophic energy price rises for consumers around the world.

Putin says the West has fomented a global economic crisis with soaring inflation by imposing sanctions for what he calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

No shake hands

Ahead of Biden’s arrival in Israel, The Times of Israel reported, ministers were told on Monday that “because of scheduling pressure, COVID, and the hot weather, the U.S. president will not shake hands with the invited [guests at the airport arrival ceremony], and there will be no opportunity for personal photographs.”

Lawmakers were still invited to attend the welcoming ceremony, which took place just after Biden’s plane landed at the Ben Gurion International Airport, which is roughly 10 miles northwest of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.

Previous Story

‘We will use force to prevent Iranian N-weapons’

Next Story

Ronaldo receives £105 m offer from Saudi Arabian club

Latest from Arab News

Islamabad-Ankara-Baku Axis Sharpens Against India

Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have openly expressed solidarity with Pakistan and backed Islamabad in its military standoff with India, this month….reports Asian Lite News The evolving alliance between Islamabad, Ankara, and Baku

Qatar Stands With India on Terror

Khulaifi conveyed Qatar’s solidarity with India and its policy of zero tolerance against terrorism for regional stability…reports Asian Lite News Qatar’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi expressed

US Lifts Syria Sanctions

Syria faces fragile reconstruction path despite sanctions relief. On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license authorizing financial transactions with the interim Syrian government, the central bank, and state-owned enterprises.

EU lifts all economic sanctions on Syria

The European Union agreed to lift all remaining economic sanctions on Syria, hoping the relief will ease access to financial funds and speed up the war-battered country’s recovery after the fall of

UAE bakery aid reaches Gaza

The convoy is a crucial component of the UAE’s ongoing humanitarian strategy under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, which prioritises urgent food aid. A major humanitarian relief convoy has successfully entered the Gaza
Go toTop

Don't Miss

International Defence, Tech and Security Conference kicks off today

The two-day conference is particularly timely given the state of

Iran reports 3,503 new Covid-19 cases

Iran’s Health Ministry has reported 3,503 new Covid-19 daily cases,