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| Saudi Arabia says it will hit back at 'threats' over Jamal Khashoggi | Saudi Arabia says it will hit back at 'threats' over Jamal Khashoggi |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Saudi Arabia has said it will retaliate against any sanctions imposed over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, as the Riyadh stock market had its biggest fall in years. | Saudi Arabia has said it will retaliate against any sanctions imposed over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, as the Riyadh stock market had its biggest fall in years. |
| A host of western companies have distanced themselves from the Gulf state following the journalist’s disappearance, imperilling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts at economic reform. | A host of western companies have distanced themselves from the Gulf state following the journalist’s disappearance, imperilling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts at economic reform. |
| Khashoggi has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October and is presumed to have been murdered. | Khashoggi has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October and is presumed to have been murdered. |
| Donald Trump has threatened the US ally with “severe punishment” if Khashoggi, who has been critical of Bin Salman, has been killed. The French German and UK foreign secretaries ratcheted up the pressure by releasing a joint statement calling on the Saudi government to give a complete and detailed account of Khashoggi’s disappearance, adding those found responsible must be held ot account. | Donald Trump has threatened the US ally with “severe punishment” if Khashoggi, who has been critical of Bin Salman, has been killed. The French German and UK foreign secretaries ratcheted up the pressure by releasing a joint statement calling on the Saudi government to give a complete and detailed account of Khashoggi’s disappearance, adding those found responsible must be held ot account. |
| Riyadh vowed to hit back against any action. “The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether through economic sanctions, political pressure or repeating false accusations,” it said. | Riyadh vowed to hit back against any action. “The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether through economic sanctions, political pressure or repeating false accusations,” it said. |
| “The kingdom also affirms that if it is [targeted by] any action, it will respond with greater action.” The statement also pointed out that the oil-rich kingdom “plays an effective and vital role in the world economy”. | “The kingdom also affirms that if it is [targeted by] any action, it will respond with greater action.” The statement also pointed out that the oil-rich kingdom “plays an effective and vital role in the world economy”. |
| The Saudi response came after the Tadawul exchange in Riyadh dropped by 7% at one point on Sunday, the week’s first day of trading in Saudi Arabia, with 182 of its 186 listed stocks showing losses by early afternoon. The market pulled back some of the losses, later trading down 4%. | The Saudi response came after the Tadawul exchange in Riyadh dropped by 7% at one point on Sunday, the week’s first day of trading in Saudi Arabia, with 182 of its 186 listed stocks showing losses by early afternoon. The market pulled back some of the losses, later trading down 4%. |
| Business leaders as well as media companies including Bloomberg and CNN have pulled out of an investment conference next week in Riyadh, dubbed “Davos in the desert”. | Business leaders as well as media companies including Bloomberg and CNN have pulled out of an investment conference next week in Riyadh, dubbed “Davos in the desert”. |
| The belligerence of the statement is likely to anger those US senators already pressing for the Trump administration to take tough economic action against Riyadh, including sanctions. | The belligerence of the statement is likely to anger those US senators already pressing for the Trump administration to take tough economic action against Riyadh, including sanctions. |
| There is no sign of contrition in the statement or clarification of the promise last week to conduct an inquiry into Khashoggi’s disappearance. Instead, Riyadh condemns a “campaign of false allegations and falsehoods”. In what is likely to be a reference to Turkey, and possibly its Gulf rival Qatar, it claims some are “rushing and seeking to exploit rumours and accusations to achieve goals and agendas unrelated to the search for truth”. | There is no sign of contrition in the statement or clarification of the promise last week to conduct an inquiry into Khashoggi’s disappearance. Instead, Riyadh condemns a “campaign of false allegations and falsehoods”. In what is likely to be a reference to Turkey, and possibly its Gulf rival Qatar, it claims some are “rushing and seeking to exploit rumours and accusations to achieve goals and agendas unrelated to the search for truth”. |
| Saudi Arabia’s vast oil reserves, said to be around 260bn barrels, give it enormous clout in the global economy. The kingdom is the world’s largest oil exporter, pumping or shipping more than 7m barrels a day. This gives it significant power to drive up prices, which would hurt every major developed economy.It also supports thousands of US jobs via its massive programme of arms purchases. Saudi is the world’s second largest arms importer after India and 61% of those imports come from the US. President Trump signed a $110bn defence agreement in Riyadh last year, a deal that stands to benefit US employers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Electric and Exxon Mobil. | Saudi Arabia’s vast oil reserves, said to be around 260bn barrels, give it enormous clout in the global economy. The kingdom is the world’s largest oil exporter, pumping or shipping more than 7m barrels a day. This gives it significant power to drive up prices, which would hurt every major developed economy.It also supports thousands of US jobs via its massive programme of arms purchases. Saudi is the world’s second largest arms importer after India and 61% of those imports come from the US. President Trump signed a $110bn defence agreement in Riyadh last year, a deal that stands to benefit US employers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Electric and Exxon Mobil. |
| Turki Aldhakhil, the general manager of Al Arabiya, the official Saudi news channel, in an opinion piece claimed Saudi was ready to implement 30 measures “without flinching” the moment US sanctions were imposed, including cuts to oil production that could lead to prices jumping to $100 a barrel or even $200. “The truth is that if Washington imposes sanctions on Riyadh, it will stab its own economy to death, even though it thinks that it is stabbing only Riyadh,” he wrote. | Turki Aldhakhil, the general manager of Al Arabiya, the official Saudi news channel, in an opinion piece claimed Saudi was ready to implement 30 measures “without flinching” the moment US sanctions were imposed, including cuts to oil production that could lead to prices jumping to $100 a barrel or even $200. “The truth is that if Washington imposes sanctions on Riyadh, it will stab its own economy to death, even though it thinks that it is stabbing only Riyadh,” he wrote. |
| Ramping up the rhetoric even more, Aldhakhil warned the repercussions of US sanctions could include a military alliance between Saudi Arabia and Russia and an end to intelligence sharing. | Ramping up the rhetoric even more, Aldhakhil warned the repercussions of US sanctions could include a military alliance between Saudi Arabia and Russia and an end to intelligence sharing. |
| In the firmest joint language to appear from Europe since the crisis broke the the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK insisted on Sunday “light must be shed on Kashoggi’s disappearance”. | In the firmest joint language to appear from Europe since the crisis broke the the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK insisted on Sunday “light must be shed on Kashoggi’s disappearance”. |
| Stressing the international scale of concern, they said they share “the grave concern expressed by others including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, adding they “are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness. There needs to be a credible investigation to establish the truth about what happened, and – if relevant – to identify those bearing responsibility for the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, and ensure that they are held to account”. | Stressing the international scale of concern, they said they share “the grave concern expressed by others including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, adding they “are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness. There needs to be a credible investigation to establish the truth about what happened, and – if relevant – to identify those bearing responsibility for the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, and ensure that they are held to account”. |
| The statement added: “We encourage joint Saudi-Turkish efforts in that regard, and expect the Saudi Government to provide a complete and detailed response. We have conveyed this message directly to the Saudi authorities”. | The statement added: “We encourage joint Saudi-Turkish efforts in that regard, and expect the Saudi Government to provide a complete and detailed response. We have conveyed this message directly to the Saudi authorities”. |
| The three countries also said “defending freedom of expression and a free press and ensuring the protection of journalists are key priorities”. | The three countries also said “defending freedom of expression and a free press and ensuring the protection of journalists are key priorities”. |
| Over the weekend, Turkey pressed the UK to use its influence to ensure Saudi Arabia abides by its commitment to launch a joint investigation into Khashoggi’s disappearance. | Over the weekend, Turkey pressed the UK to use its influence to ensure Saudi Arabia abides by its commitment to launch a joint investigation into Khashoggi’s disappearance. |
| The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, is due to meet his British counterpart, Jeremy Hunt, in London on Monday afternoon. He complained on Saturday that Saudi Arabia was still not cooperating with the inquiry by allowing Turkish investigators to enter the consulate. | The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, is due to meet his British counterpart, Jeremy Hunt, in London on Monday afternoon. He complained on Saturday that Saudi Arabia was still not cooperating with the inquiry by allowing Turkish investigators to enter the consulate. |
| Hunt said on Sunday that if it was true that Saudi Arabia had nothing to hide, then it should cooperate. He said: “Britain has been very clear if these stories are true that would be totally appalling and we would have to think of an appropriate way to act.” | |
| Turkey wants to undertake a search for blood samples inside the consulate, but says it is facing resistance. | Turkey wants to undertake a search for blood samples inside the consulate, but says it is facing resistance. |
| The UK also suggested the international trade secretary, Liam Fox, may withdraw from the investment conference if it is shown the Saudi government was involved in the suspected murder. | The UK also suggested the international trade secretary, Liam Fox, may withdraw from the investment conference if it is shown the Saudi government was involved in the suspected murder. |
| The official UK position is that Fox’s diary for that week is yet to be finalised. Any British action is likely to be coordinated with the US. | The official UK position is that Fox’s diary for that week is yet to be finalised. Any British action is likely to be coordinated with the US. |
| Speaking at the weekend, Trump said – without being specific – there were “very powerful” things the west could do to hurt the Saudis, but stopping arms sales would in the end be America punishing itself. | Speaking at the weekend, Trump said – without being specific – there were “very powerful” things the west could do to hurt the Saudis, but stopping arms sales would in the end be America punishing itself. |
| “If they don’t buy it from us, they’re going to buy it from Russia or they’re going to buy it from China,” he said. “Think of that, $110bn (£84bn). All they’re going to do is give it to other countries, and I think that would be very foolish. | “If they don’t buy it from us, they’re going to buy it from Russia or they’re going to buy it from China,” he said. “Think of that, $110bn (£84bn). All they’re going to do is give it to other countries, and I think that would be very foolish. |
| “There’s something really terrible and disgusting about that [Khashoggi’s suspected murder], if that was the case, so we’re going to have to see. We’re going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment.” | “There’s something really terrible and disgusting about that [Khashoggi’s suspected murder], if that was the case, so we’re going to have to see. We’re going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment.” |
| Democratic senators on the US foreign relations committee said on the basis of classified US intelligence briefings to the committee, Khashoggi has either been murdered by the Saudis or rendered back to Saudi Arabia. | Democratic senators on the US foreign relations committee said on the basis of classified US intelligence briefings to the committee, Khashoggi has either been murdered by the Saudis or rendered back to Saudi Arabia. |
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