Johnson, UK Prime Minister, to Visit Saudi Soon to Discuss Production Increase

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to visit Saudi Arabia soon to demand an increase in oil production.

U.S. President Joe Biden has been continuously urging Saudi Arabia to increase production, but Saudi Arabia has been ignoring these demands. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia were traditional allies, but relations soured after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who had taken refuge in the U.S. and criticized the Saudi royal family, was assassinated in Turkey in October 2018. Relations have become even more strained since President Biden took office and raised human rights issues.

It is noted that the UK maintains better relations with Saudi Arabia than the U.S., so attention is focused on whether Saudi Arabia will respond to the production increase request.

The Saudi government claims that the issue of increasing production is not a matter to be discussed with the U.S. and that oil production levels are determined by market demand. Saudi Arabia currently states that there is no shortage of oil and that increasing production will not affect prices.

The UK government announced that Prime Minister Johnson will visit Saudi Arabia to discuss not only oil supply but also various other agendas. The UK completed its withdrawal process from the European Union (EU) in January last year. Accordingly, it is known that Johnson intends to discuss investment attraction with Saudi Arabia and seek to conclude a new trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which consists of six Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia.

Johnson was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia earlier this year but canceled the trip amid rising concerns over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The UK government has not officially confirmed Johnson’s visit schedule to Saudi Arabia. Foreign media, citing two sources, reported that Johnson will visit Saudi Arabia this week to demand increased production to offset the shock caused by the reduction in Russian oil supply.

The reason the UK government has not confirmed the Prime Minister’s visit schedule appears to be due to sensitivity over controversy related to the large-scale executions carried out in Saudi Arabia on the 13th.

Saudi Arabia executed 81 people related to terrorism on the 13th, explaining that many of them were affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), Al-Qaeda, or cooperated with Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

UK Foreign Secretary Amanda Milling expressed shock over this. Secretary Milling stated that regardless of relations with Saudi Arabia, the UK must speak frankly about human rights issues and strongly opposes the executions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.