The decision strikes a new blow to the souring relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, the latter of which has moved closer to Russia and China.
The United States and Saudi Arabia appear to be once again on a collision course after the Middle Eastern country and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) announced surprising cuts to its oil supply on Sunday, in a move that aims to boost oil prices amid fears of weakened demand.
According to the initiative, which was announced outside a formal OPEC+ meeting, Saudi Arabia and the other OPEC+ oil producers—which include Russia—will slash output supply by a total of around 1.16 million barrels per day (bpd) in a series of voluntary cuts that will start from May and last until the end of the year.
The decision strikes a new blow to the souring relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, which has seen the Middle East nation moving closer to Russia and China under the Biden administration. Last month, China brokered a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran aimed at restoring relations between the two countries.
The U.S., which had already condemned the OPEC+ decision last year to cut production of 2 million bpd last November, has strongly opposed further cuts to the OPEC+ oil production, calling the rise in prices expected to follow inadvisable.
