Saudi Arabia has threatened to use its economic muscle to respond to any punitive measure taken against the kingdom in the wake of the disappearance of a prominent journalist. 

In a statement released after President Donald Trump warned that Saudi Arabia would face “ severe punishment” if the government had killed Jamal Khashoggi, the world’s top oil exporter said “if it receives any action, it will respond with greater action”. 

“The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether by threatening to impose economic sanctions, using political pressures, or repeating false accusations,” the Saudi state news agency quoted an unnamed official as saying. “The kingdom's economy has an influential and vital role in the global economy”.