Washington has not protested but could feel threatened. Right now, America leads a consumer cartel with strong ties to the Saudis, and thus has great leverage over oil prices. Viktor Kremenyuk, deputy director of the U.S.-Canada Institute in Moscow, suggests that a Saudi-Russian alliance could reduce U.S. influence over both nations and shift the balance of oil power to producers from consumers, who can now virtually “dictate” oil prices: “It reduces the U.S. threat to push down oil prices.” Putin could also face trouble. If the OIC admits Russia, other members will no doubt raise questions about Moscow’s war in Muslim Chechnya. Russia’s 20 million Muslims might be emboldened to demand that Islam be granted “equal status” with Russian Orthodoxy, Kremenyuk adds. Facing an election next year, the last thing Putin wants is an even bigger Muslim problem. He may live to wish he had waited another 70 years for a Saudi deal.
