US-Saudi Tensions Escalate as Report Says Crown Prince Is No Longer Interested in Pleasing the United States

After Saudi Arabia and members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) surprised the world by announcing cuts to oil production, a spokesperson for U.S. president Biden’s National Security Council stated that reducing production is not advisable. According to a recent report, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has told associates that Riyadh is no longer interested in pleasing the United States.

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There has been a lot of focus on OPEC members and the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) recently as several members of these groups are shifting alliances. On Sunday, April 2, several major oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, and Algeria, announced plans to cut oil production in 2023. The cuts will begin in May, and it is estimated that production will be reduced by 1.15 million barrels of oil per day.

After the decision, the White House responded to the news by stating that cutting oil production was not advisable. Despite statements from the Biden administration and various Democratic policymakers vowing consequences the last time major oil producers cut production in October 2022, Saudi Arabia’s leaders do not seem to care. According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report published on April 3, Prince Mohammed “told associates late last year that he was no longer interested in pleasing the [United States].” READ MORE