British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called Tuesday for efforts to stabiliseoil markets in talks with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, who was shunned byUS President Joe Biden over an output cut.
The new British prime minister met separately with Crown Prince Mohammedbin Salman, the oil-rich kingdom’s effective ruler, as they gathered forthe Group of 20 summit on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
“In light of the global increase in energy prices sparked by Russia’sinvasion of Ukraine, the prime minister said he hoped the UK and SaudiArabia could continue to work together to stabilise energy markets,” aDowning Street spokesperson said.
The engagement contrasts with the cold shoulder by Biden, with US officialssaying they were not planning any meeting with the prince, known by hisinitials MBS, even on a lower level.
Biden was outraged after the Saudi-led OPEC+ oil cartel decided to cutproduction by two million barrels a day from November, adding pressure toglobal prices and potentially boosting revenue for energy exporter Russia,counteracting the US-led campaign to isolate Moscow over its invasion ofUkraine.
Biden warned Saudi Arabia of consequences over the move, which some of hisaides saw as an effort to boost the rival Republican Party days ahead of UScongressional elections in which inflation was a top issue.
Saudi Arabia insisted it was only considering economic factors but the moveinfuriated Biden as he had taken political risks in June by visiting thekingdom on a mission to ensure the flow of oil.
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Biden as a candidate had vowed to make Prince Mohammed, a close ally offormer US president Donald Trump, a pariah over human rights.
Declassified US intelligence said that the prince ordered the killing anddismemberment of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Downing Street spokesperson said Sunak raised with Prince Mohammed “theimportance of further progress on social reforms, including on women’srights and freedoms” in the ultra-conservative kingdom.
They also discussed the “destabilising activity” of Iran, Saudi Arabia’sregional rival, the spokesperson said. APP/AFP
