Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) takes part in a working session with the US President Joe Biden (3rd left) at the Al Salam Royal Palace in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, on July 15, 2022. (MANDEL NGAN / AFP)
RIYADH / JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – US President Joe Biden meets with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia on Saturday seeking to persuade Washington's Gulf allies to pump more oil.
Biden hopes to see more action by OPEC+ to boost output, but there were unlikely to be any bilateral announcements from the talks, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters en route to Jeddah. Biden indicated he expected action soon.
"We had a good discussion on ensuring global energy security and adequate oil supplies to support global economic growth," Biden said. "I'm doing all I can to increase the supply for the United States of America, which I expect to happen. The Saudis share that urgency and based on our discussions today I expect we'll see further steps in the coming weeks."
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Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel Al-Jubeir said there was no agreement made on oil and that Saudi and OPEC countries would make a decision based on the market, not "hysteria" or "politics."
The OPEC+ group that includes Russia meets next on Aug 3.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have reiterated their commitment to the stability of global energy markets, a joint statement carried by the Saudi state news agency, SPA, said.
The US is eager to see Saudi Arabia and its OPEC partners pump more oil to help bring down the high cost of gasoline and ease the highest US inflation in four decades.
Saudi Arabia, US to strengthen cooperation
The visit in Saudi Arabia is the last destination of Biden's first Middle East tour as the US president. The diplomatic tour, which started on Wednesday and is expected to end on Saturday, also covers Israel and the West Bank.
On Friday, Saudi Arabia and the United States agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of 5G networks, cybersecurity, space exploration and public health, Al Arabiya News reported
On Friday, Saudi Arabia and the United States agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of 5G networks, cybersecurity, space exploration and public health, Al Arabiya News reported.
READ MORE: OPEC+ brings forward oil output rises as Biden's Saudi visit looms
The agreements were made on the sidelines of Biden's first state visit to the kingdom, where he met with top Saudi officials to review the kingdom's defensive needs and the importance of global energy security.
In a statement after the meetings, Biden welcomed Saudi Arabia's fresh signing of the NASA-led Artemis Accords, an outer space exploration treaty, saying the United States "reaffirms its commitment to the responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space."
The US president praised the role the kingdom played in supporting the UN cease-fire efforts in Yemen.