i was never in opec, that shit is for posers 🙄 like produce oil or don't

It makes it easier for alignment blocks to form. But one commentary I read suggest this is a reaction to a perception we are close to peak oil demand and wanting to sell as much as possible before going over that hump.

I think they mostly do it to increase the amount they can extract? And also possibly to lower prices below competitor prices.

probably, definitely the end (or at least the beginning of the end) of an era.

the age of royal collaboration is sunsetting and now it's every gulf monarchy for itself!

if saudi were rational sovereign actor (lmao), they would start funneling iranian and houthis attacks on uae, the oil price is primal for them

I have some great news for Western communists, then.

America snorting cocaine again LMAO

It's a classic case of historical materialism. There is only a couple different things that you can do, but for my money, they are going to try to seek out alternative protection. It is strange that they are leaving OPEC, but like, there could be a number of reasons. I don't think it would be a pivot to the U.S., who just got their shit rocked, but it could be to stick it to Iran on behalf of the U.S. (they were already on the U.S.s side). The U.S. has lost the military conflict, but they could win the economic conflict. It would be rocket fuel for China, but the U.S. might (if it is rational, which they aren't, so idk) be willing to take a solid second to China. The big problem is that I think they are underestimating the ability of countries like India, Vietnam, and Malaysia, to also use the cheap oil (and cheap solar from China) to rocket their economies. Their huge problem is lack of resources, and cheap oil means cheap resources. They have the labor force, they just need the capital goods.