BEIRUT — The spat between the United States and Saudi Arabia and its fellow OPEC members over the management of petroleum supplies intensified Thursday when Riyadh accused Washington of “politicizing oil” and declared it would not submit to “dictates” from supposedly friendly countries.
The Biden administration, in turn, said it was reassessing its relationship with the desert kingdom, a longtime if often problematic ally, after its “shortsighted” decision on oil production.
President Joe Biden is under mounting pressure from Congress and others to take forceful steps against Saudi Arabia — including possible suspension of weapons sales — after it and Russia successfully pushed a move to reduce the production of oil by 2 million barrels a day, virtually guaranteeing higher revenue for Moscow that will help finance its war against Ukraine.
