WASHINGTON - President Trump has “told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) started cutting oil production, he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from the kingdom, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.” This comes as the Trump Administration attempts to protect the United States oil industry from a historic price meltdown. Senator Kevin Cramer, among 12 others, sent a letter to the Crown Prince to remind him of Saudi Arabia’s strategic reliance on Washington.

President Trump held a meeting with Senators Cramer, Cruz, and Sullivan along with oil and gas executives from companies such as Chevron and Exxon Mobile on April 3. During the meeting, “Cramer told Trump that Washington can use the billions of dollars it spends defending Saudi Arabia on other military priorities ‘if our friends are going to treat us this way.’”

According to a Middle Eastern Diplomat, “The prospect of losing U.S. military protection made the royal family ‘bend at the knees’ and bow to Trump’s demands.”

View article HERE.