US President Joe Biden has ‘no plans’ to meet Saudi crown prince at G20 summit: official
- Stormy US-Saudi relations have been further strained by Riyadh’s support for oil production cuts, a move which has infuriated Washington
- Despite Biden’s warning of ‘consequences’, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says president will not ‘act precipitously’
President Joe Biden has “no plans” to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a coming G20 summit in Indonesia, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.
Stormy US-Saudi relations have seen new strain over Riyadh’s recent support for oil production cuts, with Biden warning of unspecified “consequences”.
The move last week by Opec+ – composed of the Riyadh-led Opec cartel and an additional group of 10 exporters headed by Russia – would reduce global output by up to two million barrels per day from November.
It could send energy prices soaring amid an energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, and as inflation-weary American voters prepare to cast ballots in midterm elections.
The move was widely seen as a diplomatic slap in the face, since Biden travelled to Saudi Arabia in July and met the crown prince, despite vowing to make the kingdom an international “pariah” following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Biden administration has voiced openness to retaliatory measures in Congress by enraged fellow Democrats.
But Sullivan said on Sunday the president would not “act precipitously”.