6 Democrat lawmakers urge Biden to stabilize energy markets via KSA
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Democratic lawmakers are calling on Biden to seek commitments from Saudi Arabia that would stabilize the global energy market as the world undergoes economic difficulties.
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General view of Aramco tanks and oil pipe at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018 (Reuters)
A group of six Democrat US members of Congress sent Tuesday a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to secure commitments from Saudi Arabia to stabilize the situation in the global energy markets and end its human rights abuses.
"Among the issues we recommend you prioritize are: securing further Saudi commitments to stabilize global energy markets and definitively abandon its Trump-era oil production deal with Russia," the congressmen said in the letter.
This comes as the world economy is suffering due to the lack of Russian oil sparked by the Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war, and as the United States is trying to convince its allies in the Gulf to pump out more oil.
The legislators also welcomed OPEC+'s latest decision to boost its oil output, calling on the organization to undertake additional steps in that direction from here on out.
The lawmakers recognized Saudi's status as a long-time US partner, but they did say that its policies provided support to US opponents, such as Russia and Iran.
"Saudi Arabia’s refusal to stabilize global energy markets is helping bankroll Vladimir Putin's war crimes in Ukraine while inflicting economic pain on everyday Americans," the letter said.
"Additionally, the prolonged Saudi-led war in Yemen has not reduced Iran's malign influence, but instead created an unprecedented humanitarian disaster that will fuel regional instability."
The lawmakers urged Biden to pressure Saudi Arabia regarding its arbitrary detention of human rights activists and other violations in a bid to stop the Saudi infringements of human rights.
"We further encourage you to renew the US demands for an end to Saudi Arabia's abusive and arbitrary detention practices, as well as its use of mass executions, particularly for individuals who did not have access to a fair trial, such as the 81 people executed in March 2022."
They underlined the necessity of preventing China and Saudi Arabia from developing a strategic partnership and maintaining the existing US policy of requiring robust safeguards for any civil-nuclear cooperation.
The six lawmakers include Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Weeks, Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith, Oversight and Reform Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney, Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson, and National Security Subcommittee chair Stephen Lynch.
