"Total Rejection" of accusations, Saudi in a Press Release
Over Saudi Arabia's ties with Russia, the United States and Saudi Arabia traded bitter barbs over last week's OPEC+ oil output cut, with Washington accusing Riyadh of knowingly boosting Russian interests.
The Saudi-led OPEC+ cartel, it includes Russia angered Washington by cutting production by two million barrels a day from November, adding further pressure on soaring crude prices.
A rare press release issued by Saudi on Thursday, expresses "total rejection" of accusations it was "taking sides" as President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine rages on.
But White House spokesman John Kirby quickly fired back, saying that Riyadh knew the cut "would increase Russian revenues and blunt the effectiveness of sanctions."
The United States has vowed to re-evaluate ties with the oil-rich kingdom since the cut, which was seen as a diplomatic slap in the face for President Joe Biden.
Yet vowing to make the kingdom an international "pariah" following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Biden travelled to Saudi Arabia in July and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- with the two greetings each other with a high-profile fist bump.
The OPEC supply cut decision was "moral and military support because it allows (Putin) to continue to fund his war-making machine," Kirby said, in unusually strong remarks.
It "certainly gave... Mr. Putin a sense of comfort."
Other OPEC+ nations "felt coerced to support Riyadh's direction," Kirby added, accusing Saudi Arabia of "twisting arms to get what they wanted."
The oil cut comes at a sensitive moment for Biden as the Democratic Party faces tricky midterm elections in November with rising consumer prices, especially at the gas pump, a key concern for voters.
Asked about Riyadh's move, Biden told reporters in Los Angeles: "We're about to talk to them."
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