UAE's OPEC Exit Reveals Structural Tensions in Global Energy Alliances
Original framing: “Can Opec survive the UAE’s exit?” — Financial Times
OPEC's formation in 1960 was a response to Western oil companies' dominance over oil prices and production. The UAE's exit echoes earlier moments of realignment within the cartel, such as Nigeria's temporary withdrawal in 2014, reflecting ongoing tensions between national interests and collective action.
The UAE's exit from OPEC is not a crisis but a symptom of deeper structural tensions in global energy governance.
It reflects the agency of non-Western states in reshaping their economic and political futures, as well as the growing influence of renewable energy and shifting geopolitical priorities. Indigenous and local knowledge, often excluded from mainstream discourse, offer alternative visions of energy sovereignty and sustainability. By integrating these perspectives into global energy policy, we can move toward a more inclusive and resilient energy system.