Diplomacy, Oil, and Faith: A Pivotal Encounter Between King Faisal and Henry Kissinger
Returning to a historical event: In October 1973, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia made a significant decision to cut off oil supplies to Western countries. During this time, he famously remarked, “We and our ancestors survived in the desert on dates and milk, and we are willing to return to them again if we have to.”
On that pivotal day, Henry Kissinger, the United States’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited King Faisal in Jeddah in an attempt to persuade him to reconsider cutting off oil supplies to America. In his memoirs, Kissinger noted that he found King Faisal in a somber mood. In an attempt to lighten the atmosphere, Kissinger made a jest, saying, “My plane ran out of oil, so will your majesty order it to get supplied with oil, and we are ready to pay at international rates?”
However, King Faisal didn’t respond with laughter. Instead, he raised his head and looked at Kissinger, expressing a heartfelt desire: “And I am an old man who wishes to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Palestine, before I die. Will you help me fulfill this wish?”
This historical episode remains a significant moment in global diplomacy and energy politics. #KingShahFaisal #WorldNews #AkaiNewsIndia
