Opinion | By sanctioning Russia and possibly China, the US is shooting its own foot, destroying international order
By Augustus K. Yeung
Introduction
The United States is at it again: This time it is pressuring two influential OPEC leading members, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to expel Russia from a larger oil-production alliance, only to be resoundingly "rebuffed".
"Two influential OPEC members, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, rebuffed calls to expel Russia from a larger oil-production alliance with almost two dozen countries, saying the group had a long history through armed conflicts," report Benoit Faucon and Summer Said for The Journal. ("Oil Alliance Refuses to Oust Moscow". The Wall Street Journal. Wednesday, March 30, 2022)
The following is a full text of how these two leading Arab states have diplomatically managed to ward off the American's hegemonic oppressive appeal.
U.S. and Allies: Asking to Politicize OPEC's Relationship with Russia
"A partnership, dubbed OPEC+, between the Saudi-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia, has refused to pump more oil while oil prices have rocketed above $100 a barrel. Producing more crude could bring prices down, some analysts say."
"The U.S. and its partners are asking to politicize [OPEC's relationship with Russia.] We will not do it," Emirati Energy Minister Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazrouei said on Tuesday in Dubai.
Mr. Mazrouei said he hadn't been contacted by the U.S., but he had heard from OPEC colleagues and public statements that the OPEC alliance with Russia had been condemned in the U.S.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman framed OPEC's decision to stick with Russia as the group's way of looking past disagreements among members. The Saudis and Emiratis have condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine in votes at the United Nations General Assembly.
"We Managed to Compartmentalize Political Differences"
"When it comes to OPEC+, everyone leaves politics outside the door," said Prince Abdelaziz at a conference in Dubai on Tuesday. "We managed to compartmentalize our political differences from what is for the common good of all of us."
OPEC, Russian and other producers meet on Thursday, when they are expected to approve another 400,000 barrels a day production increase, part of a plan agreed to in July 2021 to raise output slowly in monthly increments. Oil investors have generally not viewed the group's production increases as enough to tame rising prices.
Mr. Mazrouei said kicking Russia out of the alliance would cause oil prices to rise. He and other OPEC leaders say increasing oil production would result in investors looking with worry at the group's shrinking spare capacity—the amount to which they can increase production.
"How Can We Squeeze Some of the Partners Out?"
"Consumers are asking us to calm the prices. How can we squeeze some of the partners out?" he said.
Over its 62-year history, OPEC generally hasn't kicked out members even when they were engaged in fierce conflicts with each other.
Two OPEC members, Iran and Iraq, were at war for most of the 1980s. A delegation from the exiled Kuwaiti government attended an OPEC meeting after Iraq, a fellow member invaded in 1990.
Mr. Mazrouei said OPEC is now in the same situation.
"Recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities have been claimed by the Houthis, a group the U.S and Saudis have said is armed by Iran, which denies the charge. But the OPEC relationship with Iran hasn't been affected 'despite the fact they are throwing us missiles,' he added."
Conclusion
Any rebuff from a world-class authority, including the OPEC, implies a loss of face on the part of the U.S., which further shows that Uncle Sam is also losing its "sex appeal" as the world's once flamboyant leader. Now, it is young and mighty no more! But why?!
Lau Siu Kai, emeritus professor of sociology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, has a relatively detailed documentation of the major mistakes made by the US. "Whenever the United States takes actions against another nation, be it an invasion, an attempt to engineer regime change, wage a trade war or impose sanctions, the rationale it offers for the public is that it seeks to safeguard the rules-based international order (IO) it created after World War II." Said Prof. Lau. ("Rule-breaking by US leads to decline of global order". China Daily (Global Weekly). April 1-7, 2022)
"Ironically, the US itself is the major culprit in undermining the IO, particularly after the end of the Cold War…By frequently and flagrantly breaking the rules of the IO ostensibly under its charge, the US has damaged its reputation, credibility and value to other nations, debilitating the postwar order it established.
Today, the IO is no longer able to foster world peace, economic globalization and international cooperation. The ensuing world disorder will in turn redound to the detriment of the US itself…
"The sanctions imposed by the US and its allies on Russia and other countries reflect a long-term and unmistakable trajectory of ceaselessly undercutting the basic rules of the IO that was devised by the US to serve its interests…" argued Prof. Lau.
Professor Lau's text may be too lengthy and cumbersome, but the reasons for America's one-sided sanctioning of another country, namely Russia and possibly later China, is yet another clear case of U.S. hegemony.
By the way, the latest news says that OPEC is raising the oil prices, a move that goes against the wish of the United States. Is it a daring undiplomatic slap on Uncle Sam's face?
The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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