The US criticises OPEC on the issue of fuel cuts

Washington: Last week, OPEC plus, a group comprising the world’s leading fuel-producing countries, decided to cut daily crude oil production by two million barrels. This has evoked a strong reaction from the US. The US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen criticised OPEC’s decision as wrong and inappropriate. Besides, members of Congress from the ruling Democratic Party have demanded that the US withdraw its military deployment from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In the background of this criticism of the United States, there have been reports that the President of the UAE has decided to visit Russia.

In a meeting on Wednesday last week, OPEC plus group countries decided to cut crude oil production by 2 million barrels per day from November. This proportion accounts for as much as two percent of the world’s daily production. The UAE had informed that the decision of OPEC Plus was not political but technical. Furthermore, the Secretary General of OPEC backed the decision by saying they provide security and stability to the fuel market.

However, the US tries to target OPEC on this issue. Saudi Arabia and UAE, the leading countries in OPEC, are being held on to the edge by the US administration. US Treasury Secretary Yellen warned the Gulf countries that OPEC’s decision was wrong, saying that it was unknown what the consequences would be. She also claimed that the developing countries would be hit the hardest due to OPEC’s decision.

On the other side, the Members of the Congress of the ruling Democrat Party have also started criticising Saudi and UAE. Three Congress members of this party have demanded that the US withdraw its defence deployment in the Gulf countries. A bill in this regard will soon be introduced in the US Congress, Susan Wilde, Sean Casten and Tom Malinowski, members of Congress, explained in a statement. The members of Congress also claimed that the decision of Saudi and UAE is an act against the US, and through that, they have given a clear message that they are on the side of Russia. Members of Congress have demanded that the US withdraw its defence deployment from these countries to teach them a lesson.

The President of the OPEC member country UAE has decided to visit Russia amid aggressive reactions from the US. The UAE news agency reported that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan would visit Russia on Tuesday.