Alwaght- Saudi Arabia issued a veiled threat to take 30 retaliatory measures if the US slaps sanctions on the Persian Gulf monarchy over the disappearance of dissent journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
General manager of Saudi Arabia-based Al Arabiya news network Turki Aldakhil, in an opinion piece, warned that If Washington imposes sanctions on Reiyadh, it will “stab its own economy to death,” and the oil-rich kingdom may become friends with rival Iran, trade its oil in yuan and invite the Russian military.
In the op-ed published on Sunday, said Riyadh was considering some 30 moves that it may take in response to possible sanctions, and many of those he mentions seem pretty harsh.
“There are simple procedures, that are part of over 30 others, that Riyadh will implement directly, without flinching an eye if sanctions are imposed,” Aldakhil said.
Famous TV anchor and Saudi media figure explained that the Saudi influence on the oil market alone puts it into position to badly hurt American interests. “If the price of oil reaching $80 angered President Trump, no one should rule out the price jumping to $100, or $200, or even double that figure,” he wrote, adding that Riyadh may start pricing its crude in Chinese yuan rather than US dollar, dealing a blow to its status as a world reserve currency.
The Saudis may make a geostrategic turn away from the US and towards its rival: China, Russia and Iran, Aldakhil added. “No one can deny that repercussions of these sanctions will include a Russian military base in Tabuk,” he said, referring to Saudi Arabia’s northwestern province located in a strategically valuable place near the Red Sea with its trade routes as well as Israeli regime and Jordan.
As part of its possible rapprochement with Iran, Saudi Arabia would see “Hamas and Hezbollah have turned from enemies into friends” while at the same time stop exchanging intelligence with the US and its allies. At the moment information from the Saudis is contributing to the “protection of millions of Westerners,” he stressed.
Of course Saudi Arabia will no longer buy weapons from US manufacturers if sanctions are given the green light, Aldakhil predicted, adding that this would reduce foreign sales of US defense contractors by two thirds. American firms will also be barred from the Saudi markets, he added.
Saudi Arabia came under fire after Turkish officials accused it of murdering Khashoggi, a self-exiled critic of the current Saudi leadership, during a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Riyadh is denying the allegations, but has so far claimed to provide any evidence of the journalist freely leaving the diplomatic mission. US President Donald Trump said the Saudis would face “severe punishment” if the alleged crime is confirmed, but indicated his reluctance to act due to multi-billion arms deals with the kingdom.
