US 'removes Patriot anti-missile system from Saudi Arabia' amid oil dispute
The US is removing its Patriot anti-missile system from Saudi Arabia, according to reports, amid strained relations between the allies over oil production.
Washington is removing four of its missile batteries along with dozens of military personnel it had sent to the kingdom to combat the threat from Iran, following a devastating attack on Saudi’s oil facilities.
According to the Wall Street Journal, quoting US officials, it will also consider a reduction in the US Navy presence in the Persian Gulf.
The paper reported that the decision followed a reassessment by the Pentagon of the threat Tehran posed, no longer deeming it to be an immediate risk to US strategic interests.
The Trump administration has led a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, escalating tensions between the two to their highest level in decades.
A September drone attack on Abqaiq oil field, which was widely blamed on the Islamic Republic, crippled the world’s largest oil processing plant and sent prices spiralling.
In the preceding months, Iran seized a British oil tanker in the Persian Gulf and detained a number of dual nationals that took it to the brink of war with the West.
Only last month, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they would destroy American warships if they threaten its vessels in the Strait.
A video released by the US Navy showed small Iranian speedboats harassing the American ships.
However, the decision also came as the allies came to blows after Saudi initiated an oil price war in retaliation for Russia’s refusal to back Riyadh’s calls for deep output cuts.
Oil prices started to retreat in January and February as Covid-19 marched across the globe, decimating demand. But they fell off a cliff in March after the move by Saudi.
The resulting market carnage roiled US shale oil producers, who described the move as “economic warfare.”
Mr Trump has been anxious to protect the American oil industry from a historic price meltdown. Saudi, for its part, claimed it had not intended for US oil producers to suffer.
President Donald Trump last month privately gave Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman an ultimatum - start cutting oil production or see a withdrawal of US troops.
Reuters reported that threatened to upend a 75-year strategic alliance was central to the US pressure campaign that led to a landmark global deal to slash oil supply as demand collapsed in the pandemic.
Asked what he told Prince Mohammed, Mr Trump said: “I met telephonically with him, and we were able to reach a deal for production cuts.”
Neither the Pentagon, nor Riyadh, immediately responded to the requests for comment.
