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Saudi Arabia: OPEC+ decision to reduce oil production ‘purely economic’
Riyadh has rejected accusations that it was supporting Moscow amid US objections to the slash in oil production. Russia, also a member of OPEC+, stands to gain from rising oil prices.
US President Joe Biden sits with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a tthe Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah
Traditionally strong US-Saudi relations have come under strain over an OPEC+ decision to reduce oil production, which Riyadh insists was made for ‘economic’ reasons
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that OPEC+’s decision to reduce oil production was “purely economic.”
Last week, the 23-member OPEC+ alliance of oil-producing countries agreed to reduce production by 2 million barrels per day, citing “uncertainty” in the market.
The US had objected to the production cut, arguing that it would benefit Russia and allow it to finance its war in Ukraine due to higher oil prices. Russia is a member of OPEC+.
What did the statement say?
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said it was responding to statements that “described the decision as the Kingdom taking sides in international conflicts and that it was politically motivated against the United States.”
The statement said that this was “not based on facts” and takes the OPEC+ decision out of its “purely economic context.” It added that all 23 members of the OPEC+ group agreed unanimously to the decision.
“These outcomes are based purely on economic considerations that take into account maintaining balance of supply and demand in the oil markets, as well as to limit volatility,” the ministry said.
It said that postponing the decision to reduce production by a month, as had been suggested by the US government, “would have had negative economic consequences.”
The Gulf country, traditionally a close US ally although the pair’s ties can often be tense, was quick to note other areas, including Wednesday’s UN vote on Russia annexing Ukrainian territory, where it had adopted a stance that would please the White House.
The Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry said the kingdom had maintained a “principled” position to the war in Ukraine and had rejected “any infringement on the sovereignty of countries over their territories.”
Oil installation in Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Last week, the OPEC+ cartel agreed to reduce oil production by 2 million barrels per day
US objects to production cut
OPEC+ reached its decision after weeks of lobbying by US officials against the move.
Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden said that “there will be consequences” for Washington’s relations with Saudi Arabia following the announcement of the cut in oil production.
Shortly after the decision was announced, the White House slammed it as “shortsighted.” It announced that Biden would continue to direct releases from Washington’s Strategic Petroleum reserve and seek to loosen OPEC’s control over global prices.
Some observers in the US have suggested that the timing, weeks away from the midterm elections in the US with fuel prices a traditional political hot button in the country, was conspicuous. Others argue the US was seeking to keep supply higher and prices lower for a number of reasons including putting more pressure on Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.
The cut is the largest since the height of the coronavirus pandemic in April 2020, when the alliance agreed to reduce production by almost 10 million barrels per day amid COVID-19 lockdowns.
Edited by: Mark Hallam
DW RECOMMENDS
Cutting OPEC+ oil production favors Russia
OPEC+ is cutting global oil production to drive up prices. The move shows that Russia can still count on the cartel led by Saudi Arabia to help it bolster its war chest.
Date 13.10.2022
Author Saim Dušan Inayatullah
Related Subjects OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), Saudi Arabia, US Election 2020
Keywords Saudi Arabia, OPEC+, oil production, oil price, Joe Biden
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