Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday it was not right for the United States to “bully” Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ oil producers announced production cuts earlier this month, defying Biden’s pleas.
“We see that a country has threatened Saudi Arabia, especially recently. This bullying is not correct,” Cavusoglu said at a news conference in southern Turkey.
President Joe Biden said last week “there will be consequences” for US relations with Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ announced it would cut its oil output target.
The White House has also accused the kingdom of helping Russia fund its war in Ukraine by pushing up oil revenues.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has said the OPEC+ decision was purely economic and was taken unanimously by its member states.
Other OPEC+ member countries also reaffirmed the oil cuts were unanimously aimed at ensuring stability of oil markets.
Oil importer Turkey has this year sought to normalise ties with Saudi Arabia, which were strained in 2018. Now Turkey is seeking foreign financial support to bolster its weak economy ahead of elections next year.