Riyadh sends warning to countries making threats of economic sanctions

Saudi Arabia said yesterday it would reject “any threats” to the kingdom and vowed it would retaliate with consequences for the world economy after international warnings about the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.

The statement came after US President Donald Trump said severe punishment awaited those responsible if the journalist was found dead.

“The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats or attempts to undermine it whether through threats to impose economic sanctions or the use of political pressure,” a source told state news agency SPA.

The source said Riyadh would “respond to any action with a bigger one”, pointing out the oil superpower “plays an effective and vital role in the world economy”.

On Wednesday, a group of US legislators started a human rights investigation into Khashoggi’s disappearance that could result in sanctions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded that Saudi Arabia provide evidence that the Saudi reporter, who had US residency, left its consulate in Istanbul safely on October 2 as Riyadh has stated.

His fiancee, in an opinion piece for The New York Times on Saturday, wrote: “I keep asking the same questions to myself: Where is he? Is he alive? If he is alive, how is he?”

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denied anything happened to Khashoggi at the consulate.

Mr Trump has appeared reluctant to interrupt important deals between Washington and Riyadh.

He said“we would be punishing ourselves” by cancelling arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which his administration touted on his first overseas trip.