Is Putin and MBS partnership threatening Biden?
Both have started wars in neighboring countries, have significant influence on energy markets, are known for not tolerating disagreements and craving a place in history. Russian President Vladimir Putin and the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman seem to have a lot in common.
Almost eight months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, relations between Riyadh and Moscow are at a peak. While much of Europe, the United States and the United Kingdom are scrambling to fight an increasingly threatening Russian leader, Prince Mohammed has instead chosen to deepen ties.
An OPEC + meeting in Vienna on Wednesday is the latest milestone in a growing relationship that increasingly challenges the demands of Riyadh’s allies and appears to comfort Putin at a critical time in the war.
Both countries will likely attempt to raise oil prices by reducing global supply by 1-2 million barrels per day.
Such a move would follow a widespread disruption to Europe’s gas supply caused by the war and forecasts of a worsening energy security crisis as the Nordic winter approaches. It would also alienate Washington, an ally that has tried to recruit Riyadh to the cause of falling supply pressures by opening floodgates on its vast reservoirs.
Instead, Joe Biden is looking at a partner in the Middle East whom he personally visited over the summer as the scale of the supply crisis began to emerge. Biden came away empty-handed and thus faces the uncomfortable prospect of winning big Bowser prizes halfway through. Perhaps more importantly for the US president, a rise in oil prices could be seen as helping to fund Putin’s war effort.
Both countries will likely try to raise oil prices by reducing global supply by 1-2 million barrels per day.
Such a move would follow a widespread disruption to Europe’s gas supply caused by the war and forecasts of a deepening energy security crisis as the Nordic winter approaches. It would also alienate Washington, an ally that has tried to recruit Riyadh to deal with falling supply pressures by opening floodgates on its vast reservoirs.
Is Putin and MBS partnership threatening Biden?
Instead, Joe Biden is turning to a partner in the Middle East he personally visited over the summer as the scale of the supply crisis began to emerge. Biden came away empty-handed and thus faces the awkward prospect of winning major Bowser awards halfway through. Perhaps more importantly to the president of the United States, a rise in oil prices could be seen as helping to finance Putin’s war effort.
“Putin sees this as a matter of the new world order and thinks he can take MBS with him,” the British official said. “The Saudis are sitting on a very powerful resource in oil, which still has a strategic role to play. Don’t erase CO2 as a policy tool for decades. MBS knows the optics of showing up to help Putin, but he doesn’t care. Not even liberal progressives. You see advice through the same lens.
