Stop U.S.-Saudi Arabia Arms Sales Over Putin 'Embrace': Democrat Bill

A group of Democrats is calling for the U.S to cease selling arms to Saudi Arabia after the kingdom joined Russia in announcing it will cut oil production by as much as 2 million barrels a day.

The group of major oil producing nations known as OPEC+, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, confirmed it will dramatically reduce the amount of oil it will be producing, in a move that threatens to raise gasoline prices once more in the U.S., and worsen global inflation.

The decision could also help strengthen Russia's position after the country was hit by sanctions across the world following its invasion of Ukraine.

In response, Democrat lawmakers announced the introduction of legislation to halt the U.S.'s multibillion-dollar sales of arms to Saudi Arabia. They also say the relationship with the Gulf kingdom, which was already strained following the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, should be examined carefully.

"Simply put, America shouldn't be providing such unlimited control of strategic defense systems to an apparent ally of our greatest enemy — nuclear bomb extortionist Vladimir Putin," Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal and California congressman Ro Khanna wrote in an opinion piece for Politico.

"It would be a severe challenge, if not downright impossible, for Saudi to execute an overnight short-term sourcing pivot if faced with a ban on arms sales. And any ban could be temporary — until Saudi Arabia reconsiders its embrace of Putin."

The bill, which is similar to other legislation introduced by Congress that has ultimately failed to pass, arrived two months after the Biden administration announced the sale of Patriot missile interceptors and equipment worth up to $3.05 billion to Saudi Arabia.

It wasn't clear that the U.S. would be able to take back any arms or equipment already sold to Saudi Arabia if the legislation was passed, but the Democrats argued the move was necessary to add pressure on the kingdom after it apparently sided with Russia.

"Maybe it is worth considering some ancient Russian wisdom ourselves. Over a century ago, Russian playwright Anton Chekhov warned, 'Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice,'" the Democrats wrote. "Perhaps the same is true about leverage. It is of no value unless used."

In July, Biden visited Saudi Arabia for the first time as president in an attempt to keep crude oil flowing amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since he entered office, Biden has been highly critical of the kingdom over human rights violations and the murder of Khashoggi, which had allegedly been approved by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Speaking on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, Democrat Senator Chris Murphy said Saudi Arabia needs to face "consequences" and the U.S. should "rethink" its arms sales in the wake of the OPEC+ decision.

"We need to lift the exemption that we have given this OPEC+ cartel from U.S. price-fixing liability. I think we need to look at our troop presence in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia," Murphy said. "For years we have looked the other way as Saudi Arabia has chopped up journalists, has engaged in massive political repression."

Democrat Reps. Sean Casten of Illinois, Tom Malinowski of New Jersey and Pennsylvania's Susan Wild also said in a joint statement announcing a bill to remove U.S. troops and missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia that the kingdom should "live with the consequences" of affecting the U.S. economy with its reduced oil production decision.

Biden said he was "disappointed" by the OPEC+ decision and that the White House is weighing up its response.

"We're looking at what alternatives we may have," Biden told reporters on October 6. "There's a lot of alternatives. We haven't made up our mind yet."

The Kremlin praised the announcement from OPEC+ to reduce oil production, claiming it "balances the mayhem that the Americans are causing."

The White House has been contacted for comment.