U.S. authorities have been increasingly concerned about the intensifying partnership between Russia and Venezuela, the world's leading oil producers. Washington has accused their leaderships of failing to uphold democratic values.
The new U.S. bill says American intelligence must inform the country's legislators of the pursued or planned policies of the leading oil producers, and about the economic and geopolitical effect of their energy strategies and their influence on energy cartels.
The move follows announcement of a source in the Russian shipbuilding industry who said Thursday Venezuela was close to striking a deal with Russia on buying several diesel submarines for its Navy. The South American country has been vigorously pursuing modernization of its naval fleet to counter a possible U.S. blockade of its oil fields.
One of the authors of the bill, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), said that apart from the Middle East, the U.S. was faced with other challenges, including the continuing growth of such leading energy consumers as India and China, and the policies of what he described as less predictable governments like Russia and Venezuela.
The Russian-Venezuelan submarine deal could be finalized during the visit by President Hugo Chavez to Russia June 29, prior to President Vladimir Putin's visit to the U.S.
