Saudi ally UAE undertook a secret mission to Riyadh that backed Biden's view on OPEC oil production, report says

Sources told the Wall Street Journal that the United Arab Emirates sent its national security advisor on a secret mission to Saudi Arabia to convince them not to cut production.

According to the report, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia met with the Sheikh of the United Arab Emirates in Riyadh and was warned that a cut would cause political backlash.

The meeting in question, the production cut, and the information about bin Zayed Al Nahyan were all incorrect, according to a spokesman for the United Arab Emirates.

The long-time allies of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are usually on the same page regarding energy and security. While signaling to the West that it could supply more crude from its production, the U.S. went along with the OPEC+ decision to cut production by 2 million barrels a day.

The report on the UAE's secret mission could indicate a split among key players.

A top spokesman for the US National Security Council said last month that Saudi Arabia coerced other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to support its plan.

The Financial Times reported that some countries were not comfortable with lowering production.

The alliance between the US and Saudi Arabia has deteriorated. The White House accused the oil group of aligning with Russia after the meeting, and President Joe Biden warned of repercussions between the US and Saudi Arabia.