Assessing the Weekly News
Week 21 [2026/04/25-2026/05/01]
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Every Monday, the CERESE publishes the assessment of the previous week’s news by the Research Trainees:
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The most important event of the week is the official withdrawal of the United Arab Emirates from OPEC on 1 May. This move marked the end of decades of participation in the oil cartel. The decision was finalized after months of internal friction, as Abu Dhabi seeks the freedom to increase its production, bypassing the strict quotas imposed by Saudi Arabia. This development is pivotal because it signals the collapse of the unity among the Persian Gulf kingdoms and drastically weakens OPEC’s ability to control global energy prices. Geopolitically, the UAE are opting for full economic autonomy, overturning the traditional power balance in the Middle East.
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The aforementioned opinions are those of their respective authors and they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Institute of International Relations or its Researchers.
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