West gets cold shoulder from Gulf on higher oil exports

CAIRO－Key members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have remained hesitant to increase oil and gas exports, despite the United States and the European Union urging them to do so.

The West's move is aimed at stabilizing the global energy market, as energy prices remain high with the US and EU ban on Russia's energy exports following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Analysts say the Gulf states are trying to strike a balance between the US and Russia, as their relations with the US are tested by the impending revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which may pose a threat to them, while they are unwilling to cut off ties with Russia as military and energy ties with Russia have become stronger in the past few years.

The US recently sent a large shipment of Patriot antimissile interceptors to Saudi Arabia, which the kingdom had requested since late last year to counter drone and missile attacks by the Houthi militia in Yemen, according to US media.

The move came as the administration of US President Joe Biden tries to convince Riyadh to pump more crude oil to help contain soaring prices spurred by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Prices of fuel oil and gas have skyrocketed in the EU after the US and some EU countries imposed sanctions on Russia's exports.

Senior British and German officials recently traveled to the Gulf countries to persuade the oil-rich nations to expand their spare energy capacity to fill the void left by Russia's import ban.

On March 16, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia to discuss the stability of the global energy market. Johnson's tour to the Middle East was followed by German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, who visited Qatar and the UAE last week to search for alternatives following US-led sanctions on Russia.

Although leaders of the UAE and Saudi Arabia have reiterated the importance of global energy security and energy market stability, they have not increased output.

Last Wednesday, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan once again emphasized that "the UAE is keen on global energy security and the stability and balance of the energy market".

The Saudi government said in a statement last Thursday that the OPEC+ agreement has an essential role in maintaining the balance and stability of the oil market.

"It is in the Gulf states' interests to keep energy costs high," said Sun Xia, associate researcher with the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

Energy alliance

Since 2017, the Gulf states and Russia have forged a stable energy alliance under the OPEC+ umbrella. After their successful collaboration in stabilizing oil prices, the Gulf states no longer want to be led by politicians and financial elites in the US, Sun noted.

The Biden administration has also been disregarding the Gulf states' biggest security concern－Iran's Shiite-dominated government.

The Gulf states' strategy to strike a balance between the US and Russia reflects their attitudes toward the two countries' dominance in the Middle East, said Zou Zhiqiang, researcher in the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University.

The US retains a great influence in regional politics in the Middle East with the help of its allies. However, its recent strategic withdrawal from the Middle East, as well as continual irresponsible behavior, has made some of its allies nervous and question the US' capability to ensure their safety, Zou said.

When it comes to financial interests and vital national interests of oil and gas, the Gulf states won't budge easily, Sun said.

The Gulf states will not cooperate with the United States in a meaningful way if the Biden administration does not change its Middle East policy, Sun added.

Xinhua