US Gives Up On Saudis For Oil Production As Crown Prince Moves Toward Russia, China
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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was so angered at U.S. President Joe Biden for ostracizing him that he told his father, King Salman, and advisers that the Saudis should move toward Russia and China, and away from the United States. That was last year, the Wall Street Journal now reports, but events since then confirm a drift -- Saudi Arabia won't join the U.S. and other powers in opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. has been repeatedly rebuffed about getting higher oil production from Saudi Arabia, and now is changing its focus, only asking the Saudis not to do anything that would work against the U.S. and allied efforts to help Ukraine. It's another sign of growing division between the United States and Saudi Arabia, but the Saudi embassy in Washington says it's just another up-and-down in a 77-year relationship, speaking diplomatically.
The Iran nuclear talks in Vienna remain at a standstill as Iranians want their Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps de-listed by the United States as a terrorist organization, and President Joe Biden signals he won't do that. Iran arrests three people it accuses of working for Israel's spy agency Mossad, fighting erupts in Yemen despite a ceasefire, and an international initiative against organized crime says Albanian drug criminals are hiding in the United Arab Emirates.
And news from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, and More.
Saudi Crown Price Said Kingdom Should Move Toward Russia And China, Away From US: Report
The Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman suggested punishing U.S. President Joe Biden for distancing and shunning the prince. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with his father, King Salman, and advisors to consider responses to the Biden administration's criticisms of the kingdom, and MBS said the country should move closer to China and Russia and away from the United States.
"Since coming to power, the Biden administration has criticized Saudi human rights abuses, reeled in US support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, and shunned Crown Prince Mohammed -- colloquially known as MBS. Also, Biden has yet to meet him in person." The meeting of the Saudi leaders took place last year, and although it's unclear if the crown prince actually threatened the U.S. with a move toward China and Russia, Saudi Arabia has grown closer to China and has avoided upsetting Russia. Saudi Arabia failed to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and it has sought to avoid upsetting Russia by ignoring United States requests for increased oil production.
Business Insider, MBS threatened to move Saudi Arabia closer to Russia and China to punish Biden for ostracizing him, report says.
The White House has given up asking Saudi Arabia to pump more oil. After being repeatedly rebuffed, the Biden administration instead is asking the Saudis not to do anything that would hurt the West's support for Ukraine in the fight against Russia's invasion, the Wall Street Journal reported. A senior official said that the U.S. has abandoned efforts to seek more oil output from the Saudis, who are closely allied with Russia in the OPEC+ alliance. The action is seen as the latest sign of a growing rift between Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Business Insider, White House stops asking Saudi Arabia to pump more oil to offset Biden's Russian-energy ban, report says, as US-Gulf relations hit new low.
Saudi Arabia's embassy in Washington said ties with the U.S. are "historic and remain strong." An official at the Saudi embassy said disagreements don't mean that both countries will stop looking at ways to improve bilateral relationships. "Over the last 77 years of Saudi-US relations, there have been many disagreements and differing points of view over many issues, but that has never stopped the two countries from finding a way to work together to achieve the best interests of both nations."
Al Arabiya, US-Saudi relationship 'historic and remains strong': Saudi embassy in Washington.
Neither the United States nor Iran are budging over the U.S. designation of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Nuclear negotiations in Vienna are reported at a stalemate because of the standoff on the designation, with Iran demanding be removed and the Biden administration indicating it will stay in place. The deadlock has shifted the tone of Iran's media, with one daily newspaper headlining "An agreement in Vienna is very unlikely."
Al-Monitor, Iran nuclear negotiations at stalemate over IRGC terror listing.
U.S. President Joe Biden is reported increasingly determined to keep the terrorist designation on Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC.) Iran has demanded that the designation be removed, and because of the dispute, nuclear talks in Vienna are deadlocked and emissaries have not returned to meetings since March 11. The U.S. position is that the naming of the IRGC is unrelated to the nuclear negotiations and that Iran should proceed in the talks in good faith.
AFP, Biden "not in mood" to remove Iran's Revolutionary Guards from terror list.
Iran said it's had offers from Washington but won't abandon plans to avenge the death of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. A top official said Iran has received "regular offers" from the United States to remove sanctions and make other concessions if Iran would quit its vengeance. "The enemy keeps sending messages that if we give up avenging Soleimani, they will give us some concessions or lift some sanctions," the navy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Alureza Tangsiri, said. A U.S. State Department spokesman said only that if Iran wants sanctions relief beyond the 2015 nuclear deal, it must address U.S. concerns beyond the agreement. Both Tangsiri and the U.S. spokesman appeared to be referring to Iran's demand that the United States remove the terrorist designation from the IRGC. Soleimani headed the Quds Force, a leading part of the Guard Corps, and was targeted and killed by a U.S. strike at an airport in Iraq.
Reuters, Iran refuses to abandon avenging Soleimani despite U.S. offers.
Iran arrested three people it said worked with Israel's Mossad spy agency. The three were accused of involvement in the leaking of classified documents. News reports did not identify the persons arrested, or their nationalities or explain any roles that involved classified information. They did refer to "publication" of classified information. The three were arrested in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan in Iran's southeast, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan.
AFP, Iran arrests three linked to Israeli spy agency: TV.
The United States warned of undeclared nuclear activities in Iran. The U.S. State Department issued an annual report on compliance with arms control and non-proliferation and said the Iranian regime has not yet provided a reliable explanation for man-made uranium particles and a full explanation to the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The 56-page report concluded there remains serious concerns about possible undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran.
Asharq Al-Awsat, US State Department warns of undeclared 'nuclear activities' in Iran.
Iran and India may soon start talks for bilateral trade of crude oil. A high-level team from Tehran was reported scheduled to visit New Delhi, with hopes that sanctions will be removed by the United States through nuclear talks in Vienna. India's purchase of oil from Iran stopped when former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019 applied third-country sanctions against those buying oil from Iran.
Hindu Business Line, India, Iran likely to begin exploratory talks to resume trade in crude oil, fertilisers.
Fierce fighting erupted in Yemen as the rebel Houthis attacked government forces in the oil-rich Marib province despite a United Nations-brokered ceasefire. An official for the pro-government Yemen forces said "The army troops managed to fight off the offensive," but that "the situation in Marib's southern and western battlefronts is still tense as the Houthis continue to bring in more reinforcements."
Qatar Tribune, Fierce fighting in Yemen's energy-rich province despite truce.
The return of Yemen's government to Aden is setting a new stage for eventual unity of the country "whether in peace or by war." Aden has been declared the capital of Yemen for the new Presidential Leadership Council, an eight-man body that replaced the ousted president, Mansour Hadi, who had ruled his government from exile in Saudi Arabia. Under the Leadership Council, members will work from Aden, and all state agencies will be in Aden. The council plans a campaign to unify all the freed areas of Yemen in opposition to the rebel Houthis, whose capital is Sanaa.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Aden launches development 'battle' in freed governates.
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed the right of the kingdom and Kuwait to develop the Durra natural gas field. The Saudi cabinet said Iran, which claims rights in the area, has been invited to hold talks on defining borders and ownership of the offshore gas field.
Reuters, Saudi says it and Kuwait have right to exploit gas-rich offshore zone - state news agency.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Saudi Arabia's economy to more than double this year as oil prices hit multi-year highs. IMF raised its forecast for Saudi GDP growth by 2.8%, rising to 7.6% for the year. The IMF expects the GDP to fall to 3.6% in 2023.
Arab News, IMF expects Saudi economy to grow more than double in 2022.
A Saudi Arabian index forecasts that the kingdom's GDP will grow to $895 billion in 2025. Research by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh cited the Saudi free economy policy, local and foreign investment, and programs for Vision 2030 as factors for growth.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi GDP expected to grow to $895 bln in 2025.
Saudi Arabia is set to post its first budget surplus since 2014. Fourth quarter 2021 saw the country expanding by 6.8%, with the oil economy growing by 10.8% and non-oil by 5% and expected to grow further. Official growth predictions for 2022 are estimated at about 7.4%, with the non-oil sector playing a significant role.
International Business Times, Saudi Arabia expects its first budget surplus in a decade.
Saudi Arabia sent $50 million to Jordan to help fund its budget. The money was the fourth installment of five that Saudi Arabia agreed to send, starting in 2018, when the Saudis, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait each agreed to send Jordan $50 million annually for a total of $2.5 billion.
Al:Monitor, Saudi Arabia sends $50 million to Jordan for budget as economy falters.
Egypt has enough stockpiles of essential foods including wheat for at least the next six to nine months. Cabinet ministers said the state is capable of achieving food security for the 103 million population, although food prices have soared, caused in part by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two countries had provided about 80% of Egypt's wheat imports.
The National, Egypt says it has enough wheat for next nine months as global food crisis bites.
MORE: Lebanon judge orders seizure of properties of c-bank governor's detained brother, Reuters... Libya's rival cabinet holds first meeting away from capital, Associated Press... Egypt approves $373 mln deal with Arab Monetary Fund, Reuters... Iraq court sentences eight to death, AFP... Fitch Ratings affirms Egypt IDR at B+ with stable outlook, Ahram... IMF:Qatar's economy to spike in 2022, Doha News... Bahrain's FDI surges 5.6pc to $33bn in 2021 despite Covid, Trade Arabia... Coup generals bring back party of Sudan's ousted dictator, Al-Monitor.
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