The de facto ruler of the oil-rich Middle Eastern kingdom told President Biden and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council that Saudi Arabia is almost at its limit of petroleum production, which he said would max out at 13 million barrels per day. The nation is already pumping about 10.2 million barrels of crude oil a day, according to the US Energy Information Administration. President Biden met with Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Middle East leaders in Saudi Arabia on July 16, 2022.Jordanian Royal Palace/AFP via G Biden told reporters Friday that the prince, known as MBS, had agreed in a closed-door meting to boost the amount of oil it pumps, thereby easing high gas prices for Americans. But the Crown Prince’s comments Saturday appeared to cast doubt on that private promise. Biden — who pledged on the campaign trail to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” over the prince’s role in killing Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi — stood shoulder to shoulder Saturday with MBS, along with leaders from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates for what the White House dubbed a “family photo.” BIden vowed to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” country while running for president.Photo by MANDEL NGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Biden, his hands clasped in front of him as he stood on a purple carpet with top Middle Eastern officials, has been in the region since Wednesday for a controversial, whirlwind round of top level talks. “The United States is not going anywhere,” Biden told the Arab leaders in a speech Saturday. “We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran,” he said. “We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled, American leadership.” Biden’s previous tough stance on Saudi Arabia was due to the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images But he prodded his counterparts on human rights. “The future will be won by the countries that unleash the full potential of their populations, where women can exercise equal rights and contribute to building stronger economies, resilient societies, and more modern and capable militaries; where citizens can question and criticize their leaders without fear of reprisal,” he said. Biden’s trip has sought to shore up some of the United States’ traditional Middle Eastern alliances – and to boost oil production as a way to calm the runaway inflation that has hammered his approval ratings at home. After first visiting Israel, the president arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday and met with the country’s Crown Prince, offering a fist bump which sparked controversy. Concerns over sky-high oil prices have forced his administration to reconsider his promise to isolate the kingdom. Biden speaking during the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting.AP Photo/Evan Vucci Before the Saturday photo, Biden sat for bilateral talks with the leaders of Iraq, Egypt and the UAE. He also participated in a reception and welcome lunch for the assembled Middle East potentates.
