Saudi Arabia and Russia drive OPEC alliance plans to cut oil production - propping up pricesSaudi Arabia and Russia are driving plans by the world's most oil-rich nations to cut oil production and therefore prop-up prices, while the rest of the world battles to lower energy costs in the face of Vladimir Putin's on-going war in Ukraine.Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden made a controversial trip to Saudi Arabia in July in part to convince the kingdom to loosen the production taps, meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite his promise to make Riyadh a 'pariah' following the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Some analysts have characterised OPEC as an example of a cartel that corporates in market competition, while being protected by state immunity.Analysts now expect - and financial media have reported - that OPEC+ will discuss taking one million bpd out of the market from November at Wednesday's meeting.In anticipation of Wednesday's meeting, oil prices jumped on Monday, with Brent North Sea crude, the international benchmark, rising by almost five percent to reach $89.15 - still far from its March peak."