[Text/Observer Network Liu Qian]
On the 5th local time, the "OPEC+" country withstands the pressure of the United States and announced that it will reduce oil production on a large scale. The United States immediately threatened to retaliate. According to national public radio station (NPR) on the 6th, three Democratic members of the U.S. Congress proposed to withdraw the U.S. military and missile defense system deployed by the U.S. in Saudi Arabia and the UAE to fight back against the production cuts of the " OPEC +" countries.
NPR report screenshot
According to NPR, the Democratic lawmakers preparing to retaliate are Sean Casten, Tom Malinowski and Susan Wild.
reported that they were angry at the production cut plan of the "OPEC+" country to start next month, saying the move was a "hostile act" and a "turning point" in the U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and UAE. On the evening of the 5th, they proposed to cancel the United States' military support for the two countries through legislation.
Malinovsky told NPR on the 6th that the production cuts were "deliberately hurting" the United States. "I don't think we have any reason to continue to garrison troops there, which is almost entirely to protect their oil fields and security interests. This means nothing to us."
According to Russia today's report on the 9th, three lawmakers issued a joint statement on the 6th, which said, "Although Biden President has been showing kindness to Saudi Arabia and the UAE in recent months, the two countries' decision to significantly reduce production is a hostile act to the United States and a clear signal that they choose to stand on Russia's side in the Russian-Ukraine conflict."
Local time on July 15, 2022, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince bin Salman held a meeting with US President Biden. The statement also said: Both countries have long relied on the U.S. military presence in the Gulf region to protect their oil fields and security. We don’t think there is any reason for the U.S. military and contractors to continue to provide this protection to countries that are actively anti-American. If Saudi Arabia and the UAE want to help Putin , they should ask Russia to defend them.
reported that three lawmakers believe that the reduction of production and price increases in Gulf countries will "increase Russia's oil export revenue." They urge Gulf countries to maintain good relations with the United States, they must show "greater will" to cooperate with the United States.
However, it remains to be seen whether the proposals of these Democratic lawmakers can have a substantial impact. NPR said that due to the midterm elections, the proposal cannot be discussed or voted in the short term. The US "Political News Network" quoted expert analysis as saying that withdrawing troops from Saudi Arabia and other countries is "hard to imagine (implement)" because it "could have serious consequences and cause huge changes in the US security architecture in the region."
On the 5th local time, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil-producing countries held a monthly ministerial meeting on Vienna . All parties agreed to reduce the average daily crude oil output by 2 million barrels from November. This is the largest oil production cut since the epidemic, equivalent to about 2% of global oil demand.
National Public Radio said that US President Biden told reporters on the 6th that he was disappointed with the "OPEC+" decision and said "we are looking at what possible alternatives are there."
Some angry Democrats vowed to retaliate. Murphy, chairman of the Middle East Group of the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and Democratic MP, said: "I think it's time to conduct a comprehensive reassessment of the United States and Saudi Arabia." Malinowski and three other members proposed a bill to withdraw military support for Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Saudi Arabia seems very calm to the threat to the United States. On the 7th local time, Saudi Foreign Minister Juber said in an interview with Fox TV in the United States that the reason for the high oil prices in the United States is that they "have been in short supply of oil refining facilities for more than 20 years." He stressed that Saudi Arabia has not politicized oil. “The idea that some people claim that Saudi Arabia does this (reduces production) to hurt the United States, or engages in politics in any way is absolutely incorrect.”
Russia expressed support for Saudi Arabia and other countries. On the 9th local time, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov commented that the "OPEC+" countries "take a responsible position", which is a "victory of common sense". And the United States has begun to "lose its self-control."
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