A) The consolidation of Saudi power where the departure of dissenters allows for faster and more centralized decision making.
B) The rise of unconstrained competition as the UAE’s capacity expansion creates a direct challenge to Saudi market control.
C) The failure of traditional diplomacy where shifts toward unilateralism have alienated smaller producers and fractured the alliance.
D) The dominance of geopolitical rivalry where conflicts in Yemen and oil quotas signal a permanent break in the partnership.