Influential US senator threatens to block arms sales to Saudi Arabia

oh The powerful chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee is Democrat Bob MenendezThis Monday (10th) threatened to block future arms sales Saudi Arabia, He accused them of favoring the Kremlin by cutting oil production.

“It is necessary to condemn the recent decision of the Saudi Arabian government to support Putin’s war (in Ukraine) through the OPEC + cartel,” Menendez criticized in a statement.

OPEC+ brings together 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including the United Arab Emirates led by Saudi Arabia and ten countries led by Moscow.

During last Wednesday’s meeting, the alliance decided to cut oil production drastically, pushing up prices.

By refusing to increase oil production despite Western demands, OPEC+ has been accused by the US of favoring Moscow, which has an interest in keeping prices high to finance its war in Ukraine.

In response, Menendez called on the United States to immediately freeze “all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including arms sales.”

“As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will not authorize any cooperation with Riyadh until the kingdom reconsiders its position on the war in Ukraine,” he declared. “Enough”.

The OPEC+ decision is a diplomatic blow to Joe Biden.

The US president made an official visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in July, in which he greeted the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite criticism from human rights activists.