NYT: Saudi Arabia thwarted secret deal with US to increase oil production

The US was counting on a secret deal with Saudi Arabia to increase oil production by the end of the year, reports New York Times with reference to high-ranking American officials. According to sources of the publication, the parties came to an agreement during the Middle East tour of US President Joe Biden in July. According to US officials, the kingdom derailed the deal by backing OPEC+’s decision to cut oil production.

Days before the OPEC+ decision, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman assured the US side that there would be no production cuts, the sources said. Details of the deal were not disclosed, but it is noted that it was supposed to lead to a surge in production between September and December. Some US officials believe that Saudi Arabia has changed course under Russian influence.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the prince of Saudi Arabia in private conversations mocks Biden. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the publication “ridiculous”, admitting, however, that relations between the two countries are being reassessed. She also accused Mohammed bin Salman of colluding with Russia when deciding to cut oil production by OPEC+ countries.

OPEC+ countries agreed cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day on October 5. The media reported that Saudi Arabia and Russia insisted on this decision. USA accused Riyadh in coordinating energy policy with Russia and reported on the preparation of retaliatory measures, including against Saudi Arabia. The decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom called exclusively economic.

Read more about the conflict between the two leaders of the two countries – in the material “Kommersant” “Joe Biden has fallen out of favor”.

Lusine Balasyan