MBS vs Biden: US can do little in response to Opec+ cuts

LAST Wednesday’s (Oct 5) decision by Saudi Arabia and its Opec+ partners to cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day despite pleas from Washington – and in the middle of a devastating global economic crunch and a war in Europe – amounted to a major blow to the American economy as well as a diplomatic loss for the United States and its Western allies in their confrontation with Russia.

The move engineered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, otherwise known as MBS, was also a huge political setback to US President Joe Biden and his Democratic Party, whose chances of remaining in control of Congress after the November midterm elections have now been reduced to less than 50 per cent.

In fact, it seems that MBS has done his best to humiliate and show his disdain to Biden, who during a July visit to Riyadh pleaded with the crown prince and the other Arab Gulf states to increase their oil production and push down energy prices.