- The Biden administration is considering deliberately slowing down military aid to Saudi Arabia, reports NBC.
- The move comes in response to the Kingdom’s decision to curb oil production.
- It has sparked debate, with some aides saying military ties should be kept separate.
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The Biden administration is considering delaying promised military aid to Saudi Arabia in response to the Gulf state’s decision to cut oil production, sources told NBC News.
It could include deliveries of Patriot MIM-104E guided missiles, of which Saudi Arabia has a contract to buy 300 from the US. The Saudis have Patriot launch systems but need the missiles to defend against attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen, the report said.
Sources told NBC that some military officials support the idea, while others argue military ties between the two countries should be kept separate from the oil dispute.
Some aid workers have expressed concerns that obstructing the delivery of Patriot missiles could put U.S. troops and civilians in the Gulf nation at risk, NBC News said.
The OPEC group of oil-producing nations, of which Saudi Arabia and Russia are two of the largest, said earlier this month it will cut oil production by two million barrels a day, which will push prices higher.
The move enraged the White House, which was struggling to tame inflation and lower gas prices.
In an interview with CNN earlier this month, President Joe Biden said, “There will be some consequences for what they did to Russia.”
Biden visited Saudi Arabia in July, prompting White House officials to believe they struck a secret deal with Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman to boost oil production, according to a New York Times report.
However, Salman surprised them by backing down and announcing the decision to cut oil production instead, infuriating White House officials.
According to NBC News, the Biden administration is considering several options for how to respond to Saudi Arabia, but multiple sources say they likely won’t come to a decision for some time.
In addition to obstructing military aid, another option is to bar Saudi Arabia from upcoming military exercises and regional engagements, the outlet said.
Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, previously suggested moving US air defense systems from Saudi Arabia to Ukraine in response to the oil decision.
“There has to be a balance between punishing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and not making life difficult or at risk for the US,” a US official told NBC.