International Forecaster Weekly

US/Saudi Relations on the Rocks?

On February 14, 1945 aboard the USS Quincy in the Suez Canal, Franklin Roosevelt met with Saudi king Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud — what began a near-78-year relationship between both countries.

In return for what the State Department cal access to a “stupendous source of strategic power, and one of the greatest material prizes in world history” — immense Saudi oil reserves — US ruling authorities guaranteed the Arab state’s security since that time.

Crude oil remains the main source of energy, including for fuel.

The US today is the world’s largest oil producer and consumer — while ranking 9th in known reserves.

Nations with the largest reserves include:

Venezuela with around 304 billion.

Saudi Arabia ranks a close second with 298 billion — followed by Canada at 168, Iran with 158, Iraq with 145, Russia with 108 and Kuwait with 102.

US reserves are around 68 billion — and because of strategic power afforded nations with large-scale amounts of oil — the empire of lies and forever wars seeks control over maximum amounts worldwide by whatever it takes to achieve its aim.

Stephen Lendman | October 26, 2022

On February 14, 1945 aboard the USS Quincy in the Suez Canal, Franklin Roosevelt met with Saudi king Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud — what began a near-78-year relationship between both countries.

In return for what the State Department cal access to a “stupendous source of strategic power, and one of the greatest material prizes in world history” — immense Saudi oil reserves — US ruling authorities guaranteed the Arab state’s security since that time.

Crude oil remains the main source of energy, including for fuel.

The US today is the world’s largest oil producer and consumer — while ranking 9th in known reserves.

Nations with the largest reserves include:

Venezuela with around 304 billion.

Saudi Arabia ranks a close second with 298 billion — followed by Canada at 168, Iran with 158, Iraq with 145, Russia with 108 and Kuwait with 102.

US reserves are around 68 billion — and because of strategic power afforded nations with large-scale amounts of oil — the empire of lies and forever wars seeks control over maximum amounts worldwide by whatever it takes to achieve its aim.

In response to an announced production cut of two million barrels of oil daily by OPEC+ nations in early October — to stabilize prices and maintain profitability of producers — the Biden regime and congressional Dems threatened retaliation.

So-called White House national security advisor, Sullivan, threatened to suspend arms sales to the kingdom.

It’s at a time when Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the kingdom’s de facto ruler, is building ties with Russia and China.

Reportedly he admires Vladimir Putin.

When China’s Xi Jinping spoke to MBS earlier this year, he expressed support for the kingdom’s sovereignty, security and stability.

And he urged synergy between Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 — along with political, economic, financial, trade and high-tech cooperation between both nations in pursuit of multilateralism on the world stage.

At the same time, MBS seeks less dependence on relations with the US.

The empire of lies and forever wars on invented enemies learned nothing from its humiliating defeats in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan — nor from it failure to topple Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and return Iran to vassal state status.

Challenging Russia and China in hostile fashion bonded both countries more closely together against a common foe.

According to the WSJ on Monday, longstanding US/Saudi ties since 1945 are fracturing because MBS and the fake Biden don’t like each other.

The former “mocks” the latter in private, “making fun” of his out-of-touch with reality incompetence and repeated gaffes.

During the 2020 campaign, the White House imposter expressed “very little social redeeming value in the present government in Saudi Arabia.” 

When he met with MBS in July, the Journal cited Saudi officials, saying he didn’t want to be there.

And this from the Journal:

“Geopolitical and economic forces have been driving wedges into the relationship between (the US and Riyadh and Washington) for years.” 

“But enmity between (the fake) Biden and (MBS) deepened tension, and it is likely to get only messier.”

According to former US diplomat, Aaron David Miller:

“Rarely has the chain of broken expectations and perceived insults and humiliations been greater than now.”

“There’s almost no trust and absolutely no mutual respect.”

Hegemon USA’s loss is a Sino/Russian gain.

And this from Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan:

“Our economic agenda is critical to our survival.”

“It’s not just about energy and defense.”

“It may have been 50 years ago but that certainly is not the case today.”

Years ago, the Saudis supplied the US with around two million barrels of oil daily.

Now it’s less than 500,000 barrels at a time when China is the biggest buyer of Saudi oil, followed by India.

According to Eurasia Group analyst, Ayham Kamel:

“Oil-for-security is dead.”

“The two sides seem to be having a problem accepting that that old deal is over, with Riyadh focused on security and Washington focused on oil.”

The US and Saudis had positive relations when Trump was in office.

No longer because the Biden regime froze US arms sales to the kingdom and alienated its leadership in other ways, the Journal reported.

If dominant Biden regime hardliners push things too far by anti-OPEC measures, Riyadh could dump its large-scale holdings of US Treasuries — valued at well over $100 billion.

Yet according to Middle East analyst, Steven Cook:

Neither Saudi Arabia or Biden regime is likely to put broken relations “back together.”