Putin’s Mr. OPEC Becomes an Oil Market Player

After the deal with OPEC, Russia’s energy minister is now as closely watched as his Saudi counterpart

Alexander Novak

Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg
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When they meet, they often drive in the same car. When they make a visit together, they tweet the world smiling selfies.

And when Alexander Novak, the Russian energy minister, and Khalid Al-Falih, his Saudi counterpart, speak they exchange so many pleasantries that oil investors talk about a “bromance.”