Inside Trump’s Hardball Strategy to Control Global Oil Prices

Former senior FX trader, financial journalist, and best-selling author Simon Watkins discusses how the United States now holds significant leverage over Saudi Arabia due to low oil prices and fiscal challenges faced by Riyadh. President Trump’s oil strategy aimed to maintain oil prices within a $40-$80 per barrel range to support the U.S. shale industry and ensure economic growth. As Saudi Arabia’s economic plans falter, including downsizing Vision 2030 projects and escalating debt, Washington’s influence over Riyadh grows stronger. The historical distrust between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, stemming from past conflicts such as the 1973/74 Oil Crisis and the 2014 oil price war, further reinforces the U.S.’s position of power over Saudi Arabia’s oil-dependent economy.