Following a bunch of international news channels (Euronews, AL Jazeera, CGTN, RT live) to get as many different views and perspectives from this Russian operation/invasion of Ukraine. One of the discussions that I just finished watching on France 24 English was a discussion about the energy sector/price or crude oil nearing $100 barrel. One of the guest was a fellow from Saudi Arabia (Salman AL-ANSARI, President of SAPRAC) was asked about his views on the current situation and where does Saudi Arabia stand on this Russia situation.
The Arab guy first placed a disclaimer that he was speaking as a citizen of KSA and not speaking on behalf or of the KSA gov't. He then proceeded to lay blame the violence of the situation at the feet of both parties (Russia, Ukraine) but said that Ukraine was left to ignore the Minsk agreement without any strong push or assitance from the EU countries to which at this point, the host immediately interrupted the guest, sidestep the answer/issue just so he can segway another question which was if Saudi Arabia is prepared to help alleviate the energy crisis by pumping more oil since the U.S. will be releasing another set of strategic oil reserves to help offset the certainty of high gas prices at the pump. But the Arab analyst again went off script and basically called out the U.S. first by saying that wherever America needs help they seem to expect their supposed strategic allies like Saudi Arabia to answer their beck and call whenever, wherever, and to whomever even if they are used political tool to serve the political interests of America.
For example, America blamed KSA on climate change during the climate meeting only for Biden to call KSA a week later requesting for Saudi to pump more crude oil into the market. This is after Biden allegedly killed the U.S. shale industries with it's policy. He also mentioned the fact that this latest round of "special sanctions" will actually spare the NORDSTREAM 2 pipeline and that Germany will not sever itself from Russia invasion or no invasion. This response yet again illicited an immediate quick divergent from the host as to ensure the audience wouldn't start questioning the narrative being wrtitten by the western elites. That episode and narrative control was quite revealing to say the least.
