Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, warned that Saudi Arabia must end its latest oil price war or risk a permanent change in its strategic relationship with the U.S.
Sullivan’s comments came Wednesday during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
“The Saudis have really brought in a supply shock at exactly the wrong time,” he said. “These kind of crises really make it clear…who your friends are and who aren’t your friends.”
Sullivan noted his colleagues in the Senate have tried to apply pressure on Saudi Arabia by writing a letter to crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and calling the Saudi ambassador to the U.S.
“All of the senators who were on that letter, on that conference call with the ambassador, have been strong supporters of the U.S.-Saudi relationship,” Sullivan said. “That is going to change if the Saudis don’t start playing a more constructive role with regard to energy markets.”
Sullivan said he reminded the Saudi ambassador about the past defense of the kingdom by the U.S.
“We’ve been there for you,” Sullivan said he told her. “First Gulf War, Saddam Hussein is getting ready to roll through your country. It wasn’t the Saudi military that stopped him. ... It was the First Marine Division, 82nd Airborne.”
Meanwhile, oil fell towards $25 a barrel on Wednesday, as a report showing a rise in U.S. inventories and a widening rift within OPEC heightened oversupply concerns.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.