Biden admin has discussed slow-rolling Saudi military aid as payback for oil production cut
The Biden administration has discussed slow-rolling military aid to Saudi Arabia, including Patriot missile shipments, to punish OPEC’s cut in oil production.
The Biden administration has discussed slow-rolling military aid to Saudi Arabia, including shipments of advanced Patriot missiles, to punish the kingdom for leading OPEC’s decision to cut oil production, say two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the discussions.
Some military officials support the idea, said the sources, but others want to make sure the military relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia is kept separate from any retribution by the administration.
The Saudis have a contract for 300 Patriot 104-E guided ballistic missiles (GEM-T) that are used in Patriot air and missile defense systems, a critical capability for the Saudis, who face a persistent threat of missiles and drones fired from Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudis have the Patriot launch systems but need a re-supply of the missiles to intercept incoming threats.
Biden releases 15 million barrels of oil from national stockpileOct. 19, 202202:56Some military leaders are concerned that cutting off equipment like Patriot missiles could put American troops and civilians in Saudi Arabia in danger, as well as threatening regional defense and security relationships, and have made the case to top administration officials that walling off the military relationships would be in line with what previous administrations have done amid diplomatic disagreements, said current and former military officials.
While many options are on the table, nothing had been decided and there are not likely to be any decisions or announcements for some time, said the two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the discussions. They pointed to the upcoming December OPEC meeting as an inflection point, and said that if the Saudis increase production after that meeting then the U.S. may not take any actions against Saudi Arabia at all.
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