Republicans Slam Biden’s ‘Short-sighted’ Foreign Policy

12 October 2022, US, Playa Del Rey: US President Joe Biden arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with politicking and fundraising on the agenda. Photo: Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
12 October 2022, US, Playa Del Rey: US President Joe Biden arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with politicking and fundraising on the agenda. Photo: Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Republicans Slam Biden’s ‘Short-sighted’ Foreign Policy

12 October 2022, US, Playa Del Rey: US President Joe Biden arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with politicking and fundraising on the agenda. Photo: Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
12 October 2022, US, Playa Del Rey: US President Joe Biden arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with politicking and fundraising on the agenda. Photo: Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Republicans accused the administration of US President Joe Biden of destabilizing relations with the Gulf States, following statements on “reviewing the relationship” with Saudi Arabia in the wake of the OPEC+ decision to reduce oil production.

Rep. Senator Tom Cotton said that Biden has launched a campaign “against our close friend Saudi Arabia for the benefit of our enemy Iran.”

“That’s the kind of short-sighted foreign policy that got us where we are today,” he added.

In an interview with Fox News, Cotton noted that Biden, Barack Obama and the Democratic Party have launched a campaign against Saudi Arabia more than 13 years ago by flattering Iran and reassuring “our archenemy.”

He added that Biden asked Saudi Arabia to wait until after the midterm elections to reduce oil production, adding that Democrats would do everything in their power to prevent oil prices from rising before the elections.

According to the US senator, Biden did not ask the Kingdom not to cut production, but rather to wait a month until the midterm elections were over.

For his part, Rep. Senator Lindsey Graham criticized threats by a number of Democrats to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

“Threatening weapons sales – which help protect America and our allies against common enemies – is self-defeating,” Graham said on Twitter.

“Why aren’t we producing more oil and gas? Because the Biden Administration is held hostage by the radical Left. Dangerous and sad,” he added.

Rep. Senator Joni Ernst, for her part, criticized the White House’s decision to cancel its participation in the security meeting with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was scheduled for next Monday to discuss air and defense cooperation.

“The US should reliably implement defense efforts and proceed with the US-GCC integrated air and missile defense working group without delay,” she said in a letter addressed to National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan.

Ernst continued: “Disrupting this momentum delays partner capacity building, worsens regional security, and aids our adversaries. It also damages trust by conditioning regional security on resolution of broader political and energy disputes, a poor precedent.”

The Republican positions came amid a campaign launched by the Democrats against the OPEC+ decision to cut oil production.

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said that the administration tried to persuade the Kingdom to postpone the decision to cut production until the next meeting of OPEC+, that is, after the congressional midterm elections.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the decision of OPEC+ was purely economic and taken unanimously by all the countries of the group.



185,000 Yemenis to Benefit from KSrelief-Funded Project

An active presence of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in all humanitarian aspects within Yemen (United Nations)
An active presence of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in all humanitarian aspects within Yemen (United Nations)
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185,000 Yemenis to Benefit from KSrelief-Funded Project

An active presence of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in all humanitarian aspects within Yemen (United Nations)
An active presence of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in all humanitarian aspects within Yemen (United Nations)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), launched a vital $2.25 million project to improve sanitation services for over 185,000 people in Maarib, including host communities and internally displaced persons.
This 12-month initiative aims to provide essential sanitation and hygiene support through enhanced facilities and strengthened local waste management capacity, fostering safer, healthier living conditions and building long-term resilience for communities heavily impacted by Yemen’s ongoing conflict.
Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen said, “This project is a lifeline for the people of Maarib, who are facing some of Yemen’s most challenging conditions.”
He added that with hundreds of thousands struggling to access basic sanitation, this initiative provides immediate relief while laying the groundwork for lasting, community-led solutions.
“By providing critical support, we are not only meeting urgent needs but also helping communities regain a sense of dignity, safety, and stability,” Esoev said.
Largest concentration of displaced people
As the area with Yemen’s largest concentration of displaced people, Maarib has become the country’s largest host of internally displaced persons, sheltering nearly 1.6 million people who have fled conflict, insecurity, and deteriorating living conditions across the country.
Once a governorate of 350,000 people, Maarib’s population has now surged to over two million, placing an immense strain on its infrastructure and basic services.
This unprecedented magnitude of displacement has led to overcrowded displacement sites and heightened pressure on local resources, leaving many without access to adequate sanitation, clean water, and waste management systems.
Al Jufainah site alone, Yemen’s largest displacement settlement, hosts more than 73,000 people, many of whom rely on external aid to meet their most basic needs.
Coordinated Response
Recognizing the strain on local resources and the urgent need for expanded sanitation services, IOM, with KSrelief’s substantial funding, is implementing a coordinated response to address these critical needs.
Planned interventions include the construction of 200 household latrines, the rehabilitation of 600 cesspits, and the provision of essential equipment to enhance local waste management.
The project will further support Maarib’s Hygiene Improvement Fund (HIF) with the provision of garbage and vacuum trucks to strengthen waste collection and fecal sludge management, ensuring cleaner, safer environments.
By increasing local capacity and infrastructure, this initiative provides immediate relief and promotes long-term resilience and self-sufficiency for Maarib’s communities.
This partnership with KSrelief is a continuation of its sustained commitment to supporting IOM’s humanitarian efforts in Yemen, where millions face acute needs.
As the project progresses, IOM will continue working closely with local authorities to ensure the delivery of effective, sustainable sanitation and hygiene solutions that protect public health, support social stability, and offer hope to those most affected by Yemen’s ongoing crisis.