The U.S.-Russian relations have grown cooler ever since Russian President Putin’s Munich speech, which left Washington seriously annoyed by its bluntness. So the U.S. now misses no chances to criticize Russia’s domestic or foreign policies. In addition to the U.S. antimissile shield plan which is a painful issue between the two nations, Washington has been much concerned over Moscow’s “energy blackmail” of the West lately.

As is known, the leading gas producing nations have come to an agreement to create a gas cartel dubbed the “Gas OPEC.” The alliance of the world’s major gas exporters is expected to be set up on April 9 in Doha, Qatar’s capital. Its projected founders include Russia, Iran, Qatar, Venezuela and Algeria. Seven other gas-producing nations - Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria, Oman, UAE, Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia – are pondering the idea to join the club.

Iran and Venezuela appeared to be the most active supporters of the idea to form a gas cartel similar to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. It was the Iranian spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, who back in January proposed that Russia and Iran cooperate to establish a global gas exporters’ organization. President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez seconded the idea. Venezuelan oil and energy minister Rafael Ramirez recently said Karakas supported the idea of complementing the “oil OPEC” with a “gas OPEC,” which would be a perfect tool for regulating the two key elements of the energy market.

In February 2007, President Putin referred to the global gas cartel idea as “interesting” at his annual news conference. He elaborated on the issue during his recent visit to Qatar, saying that gas exporters “should coordinate their actions,” even if they do not unite in a formal organization.

On April 9, Russia’s energy minister Viktor Khristenko and Alexei Miller, head of the national gas monopoly Gazprom, will represent Russia at the conference of GECF in Qatar. The Gas Exporting Countries Forum was established in 2001. It brings together nations which control over 70% percent of world’s natural gas production. However, up until recently, that organization had practically no clout. The situation may change soon, but the U.S. does not seem to like it.

It was from the Capitol Hill that the harshest response came. The “gas OPEC” projected by Russia and other gas producers is "a global organization of extortion and racketeering,” prominent member of the ruling Republican Party Ileana Ros-Lehtinen warned in a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The U.S. should “make clear to the Russian government that it would regard the establishment of a cartel as an unfriendly act,” said Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The letter urged Secretary Rice “to vigorously oppose the establishment of this global extortion racket” which “would pose a major and long-term threat to the world's energy supply.” Ros-Lethinen called for applying harsh measures to Russia, including Washington’s refusal to support the Russian program to promote its nuclear technologies to the world markets. Washington could also retaliate by “focusing increased attention on assisting countries in Central Asia, for example, to develop pipelines and other infrastructure” bypassing Russia, including a pipeline under the Caspian.

The U.S. should “develop a joint strategy with its allies to vigorously oppose the creation of a cartel,” Ros-Lethinen further urged, and “underscore to Qatar, the host of the April meeting, that the U.S. cannot be expected to assist countries that are simultaneously participating in efforts that undermine U.S. security.”

The Congress letter has no doubt hit a well-prepared ground. U.S. State Department has already said it was concerned over the possible creation of a “gas OPEC.” Ros-Lethinen’s letter came only a week before the GECF meeting in Doha, which was by no means a coincidence, independent observers say. The Bush administration is not happy with Russia’s projected participation in the cartel; the same holds true for Iran and Venezuela, both overt opponents of the U.S.

In short, Washington is eager to convey to Russia and other gas exporters that the U.S. does not like the “gas OPEC” idea. Sure enough, the U.S. will spare no effort to torpedo the gas cartel creation, seeing it as threatening American energy, political and economic interests.