Why the US Needs Saudi Arabia to Help Put Pressure on Russia

Feb 25, 2022
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Also published in The Hill
About the Authors
Simon Henderson
Simon Henderson

Simon Henderson is the Baker Senior Fellow and director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at The Washington Institute, specializing in energy matters and the conservative Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

Articles & Testimony

Currently, the odds do not favor Riyadh making the substantial oil production increases sought by Washington.

The absence so far of oil or natural gas sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine is not because they aren’t potentially useful. In fact, they could be crucial. But, it seems, the White House doesn’t yet have all its ducks in a row. I am willing to wager that the awkward “duck” is Saudi Arabia. The principal obstacle is OPEC+, the informal cartel combining the old-time, Saudi-led oil producers and non-OPEC producers, led by Russia but including other significant oil exporters such as Kazakhstan. OPEC+ is due to meet on March 2, although it probably will be just the oil ministers of Saudi Arabia and Russia chatting by Zoom. For their own reasons, both likely will want to keep prices high...

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