U.S. News
Gulf leaders ‘decline calls with Biden’ to discuss oil crisis [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Arab leaders reportedly have rejected President Joe Biden’s request to discuss the oil crisis over the phone.
- According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) declined Biden’s call as the US sought to offset the increase of gas prices.
- After sanctioning Russian oil, the Biden administration scrambles to search for other sources of oil.
Leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have declined calls with President Joe Biden, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Biden hoped to discuss boosting oil exports to offset the increase of gas prices linked to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
After the US sanctioned Russia and banned Russian oil supply into America, the Biden administration scrambled to cement ties with oil-rich Gulf nations and Venezuela. Biden reached out to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the U.A.E.’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, but was denied, the Journal reported.
“There was some expectation of a phone call, but it didn’t happen,” a U.S. official told the Journal regarding a call between Biden and Salman. “It was part of turning on the spigot [of Saudi oil].”
Saudi officials say their relationship with the U.S. has deteriorated since the Biden administration took over. Saudi cites Biden’s lack of support in the civil war in Yemen and negotiations concerning the Iran nuclear deal as the reasons for the fallout.
Saudi Arabia has also been pushing for legal immunity for Prince Mohammed, who is facing lawsuits over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
The White House has been working to repair relations with the two Middle Eastern countries. Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. are the only two major oil producers that could offset American gas prices, the Journal reports.
Due to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the Biden administration banned all Russian oil imports into the U.S., which started Tuesday.
In search of other sources of oil, U.S. officials visited Venezuela and are considering easing sanctions against the country to allow it to increase oil exports. Venezuela was once a major exporter of oil to the U.S., but a combination of mismanagement and U.S. sanctions drastically reduced output.
Biden’s idea of easing sanctions on Venezuela brought bipartisan backlash from lawmakers.
Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, tweeted on Monday: “It is wrong for the Biden Administration to beg for oil from Venezuela & legitimize [Venezuelan President Nicolás] Maduro’s communist regime during an official visit.”
“The U.S. should hold Maduro accountable while increasing domestic energy production so we won’t need to rely on hostile regimes for energy,” DeSantis added.
Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey also criticized Biden for engaging with Maduro’s government.
“Nicolás Maduro is a cancer to our hemisphere and we should not breathe new life into his reign of torture and murder,” Menendez said.
Source: Newsweek
Ray
March 10, 2022 at 9:20 am
When you have a party , the Liberal Democrats, for years doing nothing it demonizing our country all over the world as well as our athletes. You lose respect. Especially when they saw this idiot President of ours shut off our oil. Mexico and Canada have told this fool we will sell you all the oil you need. Well ? I voted for President Trump.
ox
March 11, 2022 at 9:12 am
I don’t blame them. In fact If I were the prince of Saudi Arabia , America would be going back to odd and even days for gas. Any way one cuts it, this is what the liberal commie Democrats voted for. Lying Corrupt Quid Pro KING Joe has a batting average of (0) when it comes to foreign relations. Corrupt Quid Pro royally screwed up in Afghanistan, publicly states that the Saudi Prince had a hand in the murder of Khashoggi, calls Putin a Killer (murderer) which Putin is living up to, does nothing but side on the sidelines along with NATO when it comes to the Ukraine. Putin has proved the U.S.is nothing more than a paper tiger. Communist China will expect no resistance from the U.S. over the taking of Taiwan. Let tis be a lesson to all that think the U.S. is a good faith ally. In Syria the U.S. was allied with the Kurds, When the U.S. pulled out, the screwed the Kurds., thanks for your help see ya pal, Now the Kurds are under constant attack from Turkey. Turkey will commit genocide against the Kurds like they did to the Armenians. The U.S. screwed the allies in Afghanistan. The U.S. will also throw Israel under the bus when it comes to a fraudulent nuke deal with Iran. The Russians just happen to be negotiating in behalf of the U.S. That would be like giving the keys to the bank vault to Al Capone. Corrupt Quid Pro will also screw the Ukraine. Corrupt Quid Pro has also taken money under the table from Communist China, and from Russia. Putin’s Bag man the former Mayor of Moscow, his wife handed over $3.5 million to bag man Hunter for the big guy. Maybe if Corrupt Quid Pro gets involved in the Ukraine, he will have to return the money.
Gwyllim
March 12, 2022 at 9:28 pm
We have more oil and natural gas right under our OWN feet than ALL of Saudi Arabia AND Venezuela COMBINED…GET TO IT!