Saudis risk losing last Republican defenders with oil price war
The oil price war places the Saudis at risk of losing their previously stalwart defenders on Capitol Hill, the last line of defense against legislation targeting the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia risks losing its last line of defense against legislation targeting the kingdom in Congress amid the Saudis' rapidly escalating oil price war with Russia.
A coalition of Republican senators — most of whom come from oil-rich states hardest hit by the price war and have a strong pro-Saudi voting record — has assembled to pressure the kingdom to reduce its record-high oil output. Most of the senators have consistently sought to shield Saudi Arabia from legislative efforts to end support for the Yemen war.
Now they’re threatening to retaliate against the oil-rich kingdom with their own draconian measures if Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fails to meet their demand to restore oil market stability.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., has emerged as the de facto leader of the Republican coalition and has threatened “not to bring any pro-Saudi Arabia legislation” and to no longer “oppose any anti-Saudi Arabia legislation until the kingdom proves itself worthy of our support.”
