OPEC+, producers of over 40% of the world’s oil, dropped a bombshell on the Atlanticist geopoliticians, who have been trying to sanction Russia to death, but have found out that, in reality, they have been more dependent on Russia than Russia has been on them. Shortages of both natural gas and crude oil have put a short fuse, in particular on Europe’s ability to stay in the “destroy Russia” club. Would OPEC+ step up to the plate and make up for lost Russian energy? On one level, it is a test every nation, and group of nations, are being challenged with — how far will they squeeze their populations in the global assault on trade and supply lines, for the sake of the showdown with Russia?
Today OPEC+ announced a stunning decision to drop oil production, beginning in November, by two million barrels per day (2 mb/d)! The West had been paralyzed with the fear that OPEC might cut by as much as 1 mb/d, and massive pressure had been exerted upon OPEC’s leaders to avoid that. However, most officials from the OPEC+ member states, as reported by RT, when pressed upon entering the meeting, simply responded that any reduction would be a “technical, not a political decision.” That is, they weren’t slapping Washington, DC in the face. Suhail Al Mazrouei, the Energy Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), when asked about the potential damage to relations with the US, said that OPEC+ is a “technical organization.” They walked out of the meeting with the loud message of 2 million b/d.
