The consortium of oil-producing countries known as OPEC-Plus spurred rare bipartisanship in the U.S. capital after the cartel said it would slash crude production.

The group said last week its decision to cut output by 2 million b/d in November was in response to global recessionary headwinds and threats to demand. But Washington lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle called the move an effort to bolster prices – and profits – by pushing supply/demand out of balance with a swift and steep reduction.

U.S.  politicians also called the production cut a step toward boosting Russia’s energy complex as the Kremlin wages war in Ukraine – a conflict the United States opposes. OPEC-plus is headed by Saudi Arabia and Russia. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, said...