US stops asking Saudi Arabia to pump more oil, report says

The US-Saudi relationship has long been underpinned by the exchange of US arms and security guarantees for access to Saudi oil. But that relationship has reached a breaking point, officials told The Journal.

MBS is upset with Biden’s refusal to recognise him as the de facto ruler of the kingdom, Biden’s rhetoric on the country’s human-rights record, the US failure to guarantee its security following a string of attacks led by Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the revival of the Iran nuclear deal.

After the administration released an intelligence memo blaming MBS for the murder of Washington Post and MEE columnist Jamal Khashoggi, the White House appointed Defence Minister Lloyd Austin as the point man for MBS, while Biden maintained he would only deal with King Salman. [That’ll show him! Send in the Raytheon salesman!]

Biden has yet to meet MBS – or his father, King Salman – in an official capacity. Now, Saudi officials have told The Journal that not even a state visit would be enough to resolve the tensions.

Regime Change in 1…2…3…🤷🏼‍♀️