Saudi Arabia’s different drivers bode ill for Opec+ unity
The Kingdom has a radically divergent perspective on both the short- and long-term oil market. And that could mean the cracks in the cartel only getting wider
“I find it striking that the UAE has stepped away from Saudi Arabia, a long, long-time ally within Opec and Opec+,” Dan Brouillette, US secretary of state for energy from 2019 to earlier this year, told CNBC in the aftermath of the collapse of July’s Opec+ meeting without an agreement. But, looking at the inherently different motivations between Saudi Arabia and other major producers within the cartel, perhaps it is not that surprising. Indeed, maybe the most notable aspect of the oil market’s recent history has been the relative unity between diverse actors as the energy transition upends received wisdom in all aspects of the industry. And, if these Saudi-Emirati cracks become fissures, the

Also in this section
25 July 2025
Mozambique’s insurgency continues, but the security situation near the LNG site has significantly improved, with TotalEnergies aiming to lift its force majeure within months
25 July 2025
There is a bifurcation in the global oil market as China’s stockpiling contrasts with reduced inventories elsewhere
24 July 2025
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats
24 July 2025
Trump energy policies and changing consumer trends to upend oil supply and demand