US navy replenishes warships in Middle East amid ongoing operations
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The United States military has said its naval vessels deployed in the Middle East are being resupplied as operations continue in the region, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
In a statement, the US Central Command (Centcom), which oversees military activity related to the Iran conflict, said Navy ships are being replenished with fuel, food, ammunition and other critical supplies to sustain their missions.
Centcom also shared images on social media showing supplies being loaded onto the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D Black. The vessel is currently operating in support of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, which remains active in the region.
What UAE exit means for global oil and fuel prices
As the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) faces the prospect of losing one of its largest producers, questions are growing over how the shift could reshape global oil markets and, ultimately, fuel prices for consumers.
The United Arab Emirates, currently Opec’s third-largest producer after Saudi Arabia and Iraq, is set to leave the group — a move that could weaken the cartel’s grip on supply management. By exiting, the UAE would no longer be bound by Opec’s production quotas, allowing it to significantly increase output.
In theory, higher supply should ease global oil prices over time. However, any immediate relief at the pump appears unlikely.
Supply disruptions keep prices elevated
Despite the potential for increased production, oil markets remain under pressure due to ongoing geopolitical disruptions. Brent crude, the global benchmark, is trading at elevated levels, while fuel prices in major economies continue to hover near multi-year highs.
A key factor is the continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments. The partial closure of the route has effectively removed an estimated 10 to 12 million barrels per day from the market, tightening supply regardless of Opec dynamics.
Analysts note that the UAE has long sought to expand its production capacity, having invested heavily in infrastructure. While Opec quotas capped its output at around 3.2 million barrels per day, the country is believed to have the capability to produce closer to 5 million barrels daily.
That additional supply, while significant, would only account for roughly 1–2 per cent of global demand, limiting its short-term impact on prices as long as supply routes remain constrained.
A weaker cartel, shifting market dynamics
Formed in 1960, Opec once wielded immense power over global oil markets, most notably during the 1973 oil embargo, when coordinated supply cuts triggered a sharp spike in prices and economic turmoil in the West.
However, its influence has gradually declined. The rise of the United States as a major oil producer, along with the global shift toward renewable energy and improved efficiency, has diluted the cartel’s control. In response, Opec expanded into the broader Opec+ alliance, incorporating producers such as Russia to maintain its market relevance.
Today, Opec+ still accounts for roughly 40 per cent of global crude production, meaning its policy decisions continue to shape price trends. Yet the UAE’s departure raises concerns about internal cohesion and the group’s ability to enforce coordinated output limits.
Looking ahead, the long-term outlook suggests downward pressure on prices, particularly if supply routes stabilise and producers compete more aggressively for market share. Some analysts warn that the UAE’s exit could encourage further defections or even trigger a price war among Gulf producers once regional tensions subside.
Before the latest conflict, oil markets were already heading toward oversupply, with production growth outpacing demand. The current price surge, therefore, is seen largely as a consequence of geopolitical instability rather than structural shortages.
If conditions normalise and supply increases materialise, a more fragmented and less disciplined Opec could tilt the balance toward lower oil prices, eventually offering some relief to consumers at the pump.
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