Russian -- Saudi Axis?
"Joint Control" of World Oil Planned
September 8, 2003
By Toby Westerman
Copyright 2003 International News Analysis Today
www.inatoday.com
Moscow and Saudi Arabia "have agreed to jointly control the world price of oil," according to a recent report from the Voice of Russia World Service, the official broadcasting service of the Russian government.
The statement came at the end of a four day state visit to Moscow by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the first official visit by a Saudi dignitary since 1932.
Cooperation between Russian and Saudi Arabia, a founding member of OPEC, in fixing oil prices comes as a major blow to the United States and Western Europe, who had hoped that Russian supplies could be used to counter Middle East/OPEC pressure on petroleum costs.
The Russian -- Saudi agreement promises to link Russia's vast oil reserves, the second largest in the world, with the OPEC cartel, leaving the U.S. and Western Europe out in the cold.
While American supplies of Russian oil have increased slowly but steadily, Western Europe is not only pouring millions of dollars into building pipelines from Russia into Europe, but is also assisting in the development of Russian oil fields.
U.S. -- Saudi relations have deteriorated following the events of September 11th, with evidence of Saudi links to and support of terror, straining previously cordial ties with the U.S.
Reports of Saudi persecution of Christians have contributed to the deterioration of relations between Washington and Riyadh.
Moscow has progressively increased its diplomatic activity with Saudi Arabia as tensions between Washington and Riyadh have grown. Prior to WWII, the Saudi kingdom severed relations with Moscow. Riyadh remained distant from Moscow throughout the Cold War and even after the fall of the USSR.
Moscow's new closeness with Saudi Arabia is ironic, since the ruling House of Saud supports Wahhabism, a movement to "purify" Islam from all "infidel" influences. Wahhabism is influential among Muslim terror groups around the world, including the continuing Chechen rebellion within the Russian Federation.
Moscow's link to Saudi Arabia also coincides with growing anti-Americanism in Russia, and an increase in nostalgia for the Soviet Union among Russian citizens. The government of Russian President Vladimir Putin has carried reverie for the USSR beyond sentimentality and into the realm of government policy.
According to European press reports, Putin's government consists largely of intelligence services and military officers. Putin continues to glorify Russia's Communist past, and vows to return Russia to its former greatness.
Moscow also supports anti-American regimes in Iran, North Korea, Cuba, as well as China's startling military modernization program.
Copyright 2003
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