UAE Drops Bombshell, Oil and Gold to Surge
UAE Drops Bombshell, Oil and Gold to Surge
Daniela Cambone: 4-30-2026
In a recent, high-stakes episode of The Daniela Cambone Show hosted by ITM Trading, Daniela Cambone sat down with world-renowned economist Professor Steve Hanke to dissect a series of earth-shaking developments in the global economy.
From the sudden realignment of the Middle East energy landscape to the underlying forces driving persistent inflation, the interview provides a masterclass in how geopolitics and monetary policy intersect to shape our financial future.
The headline news of the discussion was the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) decision to exit the OPEC cartel effective May 1st.
According to Professor Hanke, this isn’t merely a logistical change; it’s a strategic pivot driven by a “pump now or lose out” mentality. The UAE is increasingly frustrated by strict production quotas and views the long-term horizon for real oil prices as declining.
Furthermore, Hanke highlights a growing sense of regional insecurity. With heightened tensions involving Iran and the broader Middle East, the UAE is concerned that future geopolitical disruptions could hinder their ability to export oil later.
By leaving OPEC, they gain the autonomy to accelerate extraction and maximize revenues while the markets are still accessible, fearing that their underground “black gold” might eventually be devalued by volatility and shifting alliances.
The conversation took a deep dive into the broader implications of Middle Eastern instability. Hanke notes that as regional tensions rise, the traditional balance of power is tilting. While the United States faces significant strategic and economic setbacks in the region, Russia and China are emerging as key beneficiaries of the shifting dynamics.
Professor Hanke did not hold back in his critique of current U.S. foreign policy. He described the American approach to the ongoing regional conflicts as ill-prepared, suggesting that the current narratives mirrors the flawed justifications used during the lead-up to the Iraq war.
He questioned the efficacy of modern military intervention, suggesting that “winning” in today’s complex global context is an increasingly elusive concept that carries heavy economic costs.
Moving from the oil fields to the Federal Reserve, Hanke offered a sobering perspective on inflation. While main stream media often focuses exclusively on interest rate hikes, Hanke argues that inflation is fundamentally a result of money supply growth.
Despite the Fed’s attempts to cool the economy, Hanke predicts that inflationary pressures will remain “sticky” due to continued bank lending and money creation.
He suggests that we shouldn’t expect a radical departure from the Federal Reserve’s current steady-state policy until a new leadership takes the helm, leaving investors to grapple with a prolonged period of diminished purchasing power.
For those looking to protect their wealth, the most striking part of the interview was Hanke’s medium-to-long-term outlook on commodities, particularly gold. Despite the usual market ebbs and flows, Hanke remains decisively bullish. He points to China’s massive role in commodity demand and the steady accumulation of gold by central banks as primary drivers for the metal’s value.
When asked about price targets, Hanke’s projections were bold: he sees gold continuing its upward trajectory, potentially reaching $6,000 to $7,000 per ounce in the long term.
This forecast is rooted in the belief that gold remains the ultimate hedge against monetary mismanagement and geopolitical chaos.
The insights shared by Professor Steve Hanke serve as a wake-up call for investors and policy watchers alike. As the UAE chooses independence over cartel quotas and the global power structure reshuffles, the importance of understanding monetary supply and hard assets has never been higher.