Trump pledges oil to Middle Eastern allies following Saudi Aramco drone attacks

"We are a net Energy Exporter, & now the Number One Energy Producer in the World," Trump tweeted.

"We don't need Middle Eastern Oil & Gas, & in fact have very few tankers there, but will help our Allies!" he added.

His comments come in response to drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s oil plants that forced it to slash its daily output by half. Both the Kingdom and the US have announced that they may tap into their reserves to make up the global shortfall.

Also read: Could Kuwait 'drone sighting' mean Saudi Aramco attack was launched from Iraq?

The attacks have caused the biggest spike in oil prices since the Gulf War that saw a US-led coalition to drive Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

Trump had earlier warned that the US was “locked and loaded” to respond to the attacks on Saturday, hinting for the first time at a potential American military response.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for the attack, but many, including Washington, blame Iran for carrying out the strikes. Saudi Arabia and its allies are currently bogged down in a five-year conflict in Yemen against the Tehran-backed Houthis.

The Houthis have issued further threats against the Kingdom in a bid to force Saudi Arabia to withdraw from its military engagement in Yemen.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, the US was the top global oil producer in 2018, turning out nearly 18 million barrels per day.

Saudi Arabia was second, with 12.42 million barrels per day.

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