The powerful chairman of the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee threatened on Monday to block any future arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which he accused of playing the Kremlin’s game by cutting oil production, writes AFP.

“I must condemn the recent decision by the government of Saudi Arabia to help support Putin’s war (in Ukraine, no) through the OPEC cartel,” US Senator Bob Menendez said in a statement.

The alliance includes 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including the Emirates led by Saudi Arabia and ten other countries led by Moscow.

At a meeting last Wednesday, the group decided to sharply cut crude oil production, sending prices soaring.

By refusing to open the oil market despite repeated calls from the West, the United States has accused OPEC of helping Moscow, which is interested in supporting prices to finance its war in Ukraine.

In response, Democratic Senator Bob Menendez called on the US to immediately freeze “all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including any arms sales.”

“As the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, I will not allow any cooperation with Riyadh until the kingdom reevaluates its position on the war in Ukraine. Enough,” he announced.

The major OPEC+ cut is also a diplomatic slap in the face for Joe Biden.

In July, the US president was in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on an official visit, where he exchanged greetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite criticism from human rights activists.