Nikki Haley: OPEC wanted to ‘stick it to Biden’ after Saudi remarks, Iran deal efforts
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Sunday that President Biden should not have been surprised that ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) decided to cut oil production – in fact, she suggested that it could have been done out of spite. him.
After OPEC+, led by Saudi Arabia, announced last week that it would cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day in a move that is expected to increase oil prices globally. In response, President Biden said the move was “a disappointment” that “says there are problems” with Washington’s relationship with Riyadh.
“I don̵[ads1]7;t know why he’s mad when you go and you’re asking the rest of the world to make Saudi Arabia an international pariah,” Haley told “Sunday Morning Futures” host Maria Bartiromo, “when you go in, you fall hero. over yourself to get into the Iran deal, which upsets all the Arab countries.”
Biden had spoken out against Saudi Arabia while campaigning for the presidency. Since taking office, his administration has been actively working to renegotiate a nuclear deal with Iran that has been criticized for not doing enough to keep a nuclear weapon away from Iran, which is an adversary of Saudi Arabia and other Arab states.
OPEC+ MINISTERS AGREE TO CUT PRODUCTION BY 2M BARRELS PER DAY
Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and UN ambassador, speaks July 14, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
(Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
“Don’t be shocked when OPEC is not your friend and doesn’t go and lift and increase production,” Haley continued. “I mean, they did exactly what I think they wanted to do, which was to keep it to Biden.”
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Haley went on to criticize the White House for allegedly looking at Venezuela as an alternative, saying the South American nation has “literally committed crimes against humanity.”
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“I mean, we can do what we need to do here,” Haley said. “We can protect Americans. We should export as much liquefied natural gas as we can. We don’t have to rely on anyone else for things like energy and to go into our reserves.”
Fox Business’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
