US and Saudi Arabia clash in public over oil cut, Russia

US and Saudi Arabia clash in public over oil cut, Russia

The United States and Saudi Arabia traded bitter barbs Thursday over last week's OPEC+ oil output cut, with Washington accusing Riyadh of knowingly boosting Russian interests.

The Saudi-led OPEC+ cartel -- which includes Russia -- angered Washington by cutting production by two million barrels a day from November, adding further pressure on soaring crude prices.

Saudi Arabia issued a rare press release on Thursday expressing "total rejection" of accusations it was "taking sides" as President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine rages on.

But White House spokesman John Kirby quickly fired back, saying that Riyadh knew the cut "would increase Russian revenues and blunt the effectiveness of sanctions."

The United States has vowed to re-evaluate ties with the oil-rich kingdom since the cut, which was seen as a diplomatic slap in the face for President Joe Biden.

Despite vowing to make the kingdom an international "pariah" following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Biden traveled to Saudi Arabia in July and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- with the two greeting each other with a high-profile fist bump.

The OPEC supply cut decision was "moral and military support because it allows (Putin) to continue to fund his war-making machine," Kirby said, in unusually strong remarks.

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