OPEC chief pledges to deepen ties with new U.S. administration

Oil-producing group OPEC will continue to strengthen its relationship with the U.S. energy industry under Joe Biden’s new administration, the oil cartel’s Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo said.

Barkindo congratulated Biden for his upcoming inauguration during a virtual panel hosted by the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum, and said: "We continue to deepen this relationship, which we found mutually beneficial to all of us."

"And we intend to continue along this fashion going forward and the administration of President Biden," CNBC cited him as saying.

Asked if he had been in touch with Biden yet, Barkindo replied: "No, not at all." "We believe that we have established very mutually beneficial productive relationships with the industry in the United States. And I think we have no option but to continue to strengthen this relationship under President Biden," the OPEC chief added.