The United Arab Emirates' decision to leave OPEC was a sovereign choice driven by production strategy, not politics, UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei insisted Saturday in a post on X.
Suhail Al Mazrouei © EPN
The United Arab Emirates' decision to leave OPEC was a sovereign choice driven by production strategy, not politics, UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei insisted Saturday in a post on X.
"It is not driven by political considerations, nor does it reflect any division between the UAE and its partners," he wrote, seeking to downplay tensions following the UAE's departure from the oil producers' group on May 1.
The exit nonetheless carries significant weight. As one of OPEC's largest producers, the UAE's withdrawal weakens the group's grip on global oil supplies and deepens a growing rift with Saudi Arabia - OPEC’s de facto leader - at a particularly sensitive moment. An unprecedented energy crisis, triggered by the war involving Iran, has already exposed sharp divisions among Gulf nations.
The UAE's move signals a new era of fracture within a bloc that has long shaped the world's energy landscape.
By Mariam Al Mualla
Four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed near a Palestinian village on Friday in a confrontation that added to a growing toll over recent weeks as Israeli settler violence has intensified against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Iran launched fresh strikes across the region on Friday, retaliating after another night of US bombardment on its territory, claiming attacks on facilities used by American forces in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait.
Pakistan is exploring a path towards a resumption of stalled U.S.-Iran talks over ending their nearly five-month-old war, three Pakistani sources said, following a push initiated by China.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.