Prince Salman openly threatened Biden: ‘We will destroy your economy’
A notable story about Washington-Riyadh relations, where tensions have been high recently, was published in the US press.
According to news in the Washington Post newspaper, during the oil crisis between the two countries last year, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia openly threatened Washington, saying it would destroy the US economy.
The energy and oil ministers of the OPEC+ group decided at the meeting held on October 5 to reduce oil production by 2 million barrels per day starting in November. Faced with this decision, John Kirby, Director of Strategic Communications for the White House National Security Council, made statements that US President Joe Biden was reconsidering relations with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said his country has strategic relations with the United States, saying OPEC+’s decisions to cut oil production were made for economic reasons.
THREATENED BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR
It turned out that Saudi Arabia, which made diplomatic and moderate statements during the crisis that led to the escalation of tension between the two countries, gave harsh warnings to the US behind closed doors.
According to classified intelligence documents obtained by the Washington Post, Prince Salman told officials he met that his country would take steps that would have very serious consequences for the US economy if the US retaliated. Selman was also reported to have said, “I will no longer deal with the American administration” and that he will break bridges with the United States.
In the news, it was claimed that bilateral contacts continued as a result of the US administration’s efforts to de-escalate tension, recalling that Prince Salman met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jeddah this week.
A spokesman for the US National Security Council, making a statement on the news, noted that cooperation with Saudi Arabia continues on many issues.
NOT THE FIRST VOLTAGE
Relations between Biden and Selman were tense from the beginning due to the US president’s harsh statements about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi regarding Saudi Arabia during the candidacy process.
Biden, who at the time said “We will hold him accountable” by targeting the Saudi Prince himself, met Prince Salman during his visit to Saudi Arabia last July and sparked a huge reaction.
On the other hand, talk that the US administration, which is looking for an energy source after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is trying to improve relations with Saudi Arabia has been on the agenda for some time.