Whoever controls the Strategic Energy Ellipse aka the Gulf Caspian Ellipse controls 70% of the world's oil reserves and 50% of the world's nat gas reserves.
Russia, China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization
The best way to counter the possible energy monopolization of the Strategic Energy Ellipse is to accelerate the synthetic gasoline industries in North America and Western Europe, thereby greatly reducing dependence on foreign oil.