While Trump’s war against Iran disrupts global fuel markets US promoting “energy abundance”

The United States begins G20 meetings in Houston on Monday promoting “energy abundance” as President Donald Trump’s war against Iran disrupts global fuel markets. Delegations from major economies, including China, India, Japan and Germany, will attend alongside oil producers Canada and Saudi Arabia. Russia is also expected to participate, France 24 reports.

The discussions are slated to run through Wednesday in Houston, in the oil-rich US state of Texas.

Russian diplomats indicated Saturday that Moscow would also send some officials.

The unexpected presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov caused a stir at a previous G20 meeting two weeks ago.

Ukraine’s European allies expressed disappointment in the US decision to invite Russia, which ran against efforts to exclude Moscow over the war on its neighbour.

The Houston meetings come as oil and gas prices surge over the Middle East war, with Europe struggling to fill its gas storage facilities ahead of winter.

One of Washington’s stated priorities as G20 host is to expand access to affordable, reliable and secure energy, but supply has been dramatically impacted since the US and Israel attacked Iran in February.

Prices at the pump have skyrocketed in the United States, where the price of a gallon (3.78 litres) of diesel has hit a record high, and now runs an average $6.20, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Regular gasoline is also 44 percent more expensive than it was before the war.

The unpopular war and its consequences have Trump’s Republican Party fearing a defeat in the November midterm elections.