Saudi Minister: U.S. Energy Independence Is ‘Naive’



The U.S. is suddenly awash in oil, and with heady expectations that the country could soon be “energy independent,” or nearly so, after bemoaning four decades of dependence on unpredictable and sometimes hostile foreign suppliers of oil.

Some hope that decreased reliance on foreign oil will enable the U.S. to disentangle itself from some overseas commitments, especially in the Middle East.

That appears to be worrying some top officials from Saudi Arabia, who’ve recently traveled to the U.S. with a message: U.S. energy independence is a chimera.

“This talk of ending reliance (on foreign oil) is a naive and rather simplistic view,” said Ali al-Naimi, Saudi oil minister, in a speech in Washington Tuesday. “Talk of energy independence fails to recognize the interconnected nature of global energy markets,” he said.

“Just as I didn’t buy into the peak oil theory, I do not go along with the opinion that increasing U.S. liquids production means the United States could, or should, detach itself from international affairs. I don’t believe that is in anyone’s best interest, and I don’t believe it will happen,” he said.

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To be sure, top U.S. officials have said similar things. “Reduced energy imports do not mean the United States can or should disengage from the Middle East or the world,” White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said in a speech last week.

But over the last couple of years, there’s been plenty of speculation that the U.S. energy boom could finally restore some freedom of action for U.S. foreign policy, especially when it comes to expensive security commitments in the Middle East, a region whose oil exports increasingly head east.

The Saudi message to American audiences seemed to be: We welcome the big, and unexpected, increase in U.S. oil production—because it should lead to deeper U.S. involvement in world energy markets, not a retreat.

Seeking to forestall the idea that a domestic gusher could free the U.S. from its long and complicated relationship with Saudi Arabia—which now ships 70% of its oil to Asia—Mr. al Naimi underscored the ties between the two countries.

“The U.S.-Saudi relationship remains vital, as it is one of partnership and trust, and like oil itself, it is enduring,” he said.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/04/30...dence-is-naive/

We'd like to keep on buying your oil but....You see...it's like this...our "leaders" have already given away all of our money and forgot to keep enough for ourselves. We will have no money to buy your oil as China will have to give the Ok and they aren't about to do that.

Quote: Olivia wrote in post #2

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We'd like to keep on buying your oil but....You see...it's like this...our "leaders" have already given away all of our money and forgot to keep enough for ourselves. We will have no money to buy your oil as China will have to give the Ok and they aren't about to do that.

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