After cut in oil production quotas by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, the White House said that US President Joe Biden will now work with Congress to ‘re-evaluate’ relationship with Saudi Arabia. US National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said Biden is “willing to work with Congress as we think about what the right relationship with Saudi Arabia needs to be going forward.” “I think the President’s been very clear that this is a relationship that we need to continue to reevaluate, that we need to be willing to revisit. And certainly, in light of the OPEC decision, I think that’s where he is, and he’s willing to work with Congress to think through what that relationship ought to look like going forward,” he said.
Biden during his visit to Saudi Arabia in July had expressed optimism that Saudi Arabia would take steps to boost the global oil supply in the coming weeks, which had been viewed as a major goal of the trip given high domestic gas prices globally due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
However, OPEC’s decision has now made the White House rethink its relationship with Saudi Arabia. OPEC’s decision can be viewed in another light as well mid-term elections in US. Oil production cuts come on the heels of midterm elections and inflation will be the one thing on top of voters’ minds.
Earlier this year, Biden announced a major release of barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to alleviate pump prices.