U.S Leans On Saudi Arabia Over Increased Oil Prices As OPEC Meets

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The United States has emphasized the importance of “affordable” energy to Saudi Arabia ahead of a meeting of major oil producers, which will deteremine whether or not to pump more barrels following a sharp increase in prices.

Jennifer Granholm, the US energy secretary, reported on Wednesday that she had a “positive” call with Saudi energy minister Abdulaziz Bin Salman. “We reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation to ensure affordable and reliable sources of energy for consumers,” Granholm said on Twitter.

The timing and substance of the call suggest that the United States would like to see oil supplies increase following a 70% spike in the price of Brent crude, the global benchmark, over the past five months. US gasoline prices have also risen sharply to an average of $2.88 per gallon.