Saudi Arabia announced it would decrease oil output after a weekend meeting of OPEC+.
On his second trip to Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A new Saudi-Iran détente negotiated by China and disputes over the supply of crude oil to global markets have strained relations between Washington and Riyadh.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Daniel Benaim said Secretary Blinken’s trip “is a vision of the U.S.-Saudi relationship that’s both rooted in our historic mainstays of cooperation in areas like defense and security and counterterrorism, includes ongoing important regional diplomacy when it comes to Yemen and Sudan, and looks for opportunities for regional de-escalation and regional integration.” He added, “We will not leave a vacuum for our strategic competitors in the region.”
Other matters potentially on the table between the two leaders include the situation in Yemen and Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon.
Following a weekend OPEC summit, Saudi Arabia announced a million-barrel-per-day production cut. For the moment, of the 23 nations that constitute OPEC, the Saudis are “going it alone.” The United Arab Emirates, for example, could potentially increase its production quotas.
Analysts do not see the Saudi decision as a problem for the U.S., where gas prices at the pump remain down from last year.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for Secretary Blinken as he meets with Saudi ministers and heads of state.
- For U.S. ambassadors as they engage their counterparts around the globe.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, Newsmax, Reuters
