In a commentary, NTU RSIS senior research fellow James Dorsey wrote about the decision by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers like Russia to temporarily end a price war and cut production amounts to a time-out rather than an end to what is likely to erupt at some point in the future as a tripartite war. More immediately, the decision averts a significant deterioration in relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia and in the kingdoms wake, the United Arab Emirates, he wrote.