MEXICO CITY, April 29. /TASS/. The United Arab Emirates’ exit from the OPEC cartel and the OPEC+ alliance is an attempt by Washington to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia, Mauricio Esteves, political analyst and researcher at the Autonomous Metropolitan University of Mexico, told a TASS correspondent.
"Of course, this (the UAE’s exit from OPEC — TASS) is perceived as a blow to the organization, because the UAE is an important, though far from the largest, oil producer. <…> I would view this as a way of putting pressure on Saudi Arabia, which acts as the conductor and largely organizes OPEC’s work," Esteves said.
According to the expert, the situation points to a deep crisis within OPEC among Persian Gulf countries "against the backdrop of a conflict triggered by the United States following its aggression against Iran." The political analyst stressed that Western countries have historically exerted pressure on the cartel since its creation in order to control hydrocarbon markets.
"The fact that the UAE may gain the ability to increase production and bypass the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz would allow more oil to reach the market, which could help stabilize prices. But while this may sound like good news at the international level, it also serves the domestic needs of the United States," the expert said.
Earlier, the Emirati state news agency WAM reported that the UAE had decided to withdraw from OPEC and OPEC+ starting May 1, 2026. According to WAM, the UAE’s decision is in line with the country’s long-term economic strategy.