Overseas Energy Crisis
High Gasoline Prices – Now the US is Courting Saudi Arabia Suddenly
Situation: 5:15 am | Reading time: 2 minutes
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The economic budget was debated in the Bundestag. In his speech, Economy Minister Habeck said the sanctions against Russia were having an effect. He described Russia’s credibility as “junk status” and is right: “Putin can’t go on like this much longer.”
During the election campaign, US President Joe Biden vowed to isolate Saudi Arabia for the brutal murder of journalist Khashoggi. But the war in Ukraine is now causing gas prices to rise dramatically in the US – and priorities are shifting.
US President Joe Biden wants to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks due to high gas prices. The AP news agency and the New York Times learned of this Thursday from government circles in Washington. So Biden is likely to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman there, whom he wanted to isolate internationally a few years ago in retaliation for the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In addition, Biden wants to speak to top politicians in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. The logistical details and schedule are yet to be confirmed, but the basic decision has already been made. The visit will add to a trip already planned for the end of June to Israel, the G7 summit in Germany and the NATO summit in Spain.
“The president looks forward to the opportunity to speak with leaders in the Middle East,” White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said, without explicitly confirming the trip.
On Thursday, the White House sent visibly conciliatory signals towards Riyadh. The US government welcomes Saudi Arabia’s role in the OPEC+ oil cartel’s recent decision to increase daily production by about 648,000 barrels each in July and August, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Biden himself had previously praised the kingdom for agreeing to extend a ceasefire between the warring factions in Yemen for another two months. The ceasefire between the internationally recognized government of Yemen, backed by Riyadh, and the Houthi rebels took effect in early April.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Source: AP/Bandar Aljaloud
The warm words mark a stark contrast to Biden’s rhetoric as a presidential candidate. In the White House election campaign, he announced that he wanted to treat Saudi Arabia as a “rogue state” because of the Khashoggi assassination. In addition to the brutal murder of the Saudi columnist, for which the US intelligence services directly blamed Crown Prince Mohammed, there are also several other accusations against the royal family in terms of human rights.
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However, US government circles have already said Biden could try to get commitments in Riyadh for oil delivery amounts that would ease American consumers at the pumps.