UAE Quits OPEC, Shaking Oil Market and Gulf Politics

Overview

• The United Arab Emirates said it left OPEC after nearly six decades, removing roughly 3 million barrels per day from the cartel’s ranks.
• The government framed the break as a security issue, with senior adviser Anwar Gargash criticizing Gulf partners for offering little political or military support against Iranian attacks.
• The Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that carries about one‑fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, has faced threats that disrupted Gulf shipments and unsettled energy markets.
• President Donald Trump welcomed the exit, saying it would help lower prices for gasoline and crude.
• A regional diplomat said OPEC had been discussing higher output before the announcement, suggesting policy talks were not the main driver compared with the UAE’s security grievances.