Turkey criticizes US for ‘bullying’ Saudi Arabia over OPEC+ cuts

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey on Friday criticized the United States for threatening Saudi Arabia with “consequences” over the OPEC+ decision to cut down oil production earlier this month, labeling Washington’s remarks towards Riyadh as “bullying”.

The 13-nation Saudi-led OPEC group and its 10 allies headed by Russia agreed early October to cut oil production by two million barrels per day starting from November, sparking concerns over a possible surge in oil prices. Washington has advised against the move.

“We see that a country [US] has threatened Saudi Arabia, especially recently. This bullying is not correct,” Turkish state media cited Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying at a news conference in Mersin province on Friday, adding “You can criticize, you can say that you are not satisfied, and we do not like the increase in prices because it is reflected, but we do not turn it into a threat language.”

US President Joe Biden vowed “consequences” for Riyadh over the OPEC decision a week after its announcement, without providing further clarification.

Cavusoglu also criticized the US for its sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, telling Washington to lift the embargoes on the countries that are offering products to the market if it wishes to decrease oil prices.

"The whole world needs Venezuela's oil and natural gas… There is also an embargo on Iranian oil… If you want oil prices to go down, lift sanctions,” he added.

The US has imposed heavy sanctions on Venezuela since 2014, accusing officials of the country of being involved in human rights abuses, corruption, degradation in the rule of law, and repression of democracy.

Iran is also a subject of Washington’s hard-hitting sanctions. The country boasts the world’s second largest proven gas reserves and fourth largest oil reserves but its exports have heavily been impacted by US sanctions following Washington’s decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal with the Islamic republic and world powers in 2018.

Oil prices increased amid shortfall fears following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, with the US repeatedly urging members of the oil cartel to increase their oil production in an effort to balance the market.

Biden traveled to Saudi Arabia in July and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite earlier vows to turn the country into a “pariah” after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.