How Does Oil Affect The Middle East

In 2017, citizens of the U.S. consumed a total of 7.26 billion barrels of petroleum products, amounting to an average of about 19.88 million barrels per day. In Middle Eastern countries, oil exportation is heavily relied on by the population to support the economy, however it is one of the leading causes of issues. The Middle East is not all problematic, though, as some countries choose to spend their money on education. Disputes between countries over oil control spurs conflicts, and can lead environmental issues. Although there can be benefits, the Middle East has been more negatively than positively affected by oil.

Oil can be detrimental to the Middle East by fueling conflicts between countries. Disputes may lead to wars, such as the First Persian Gulf War, as well as other altercations among countries. The First Persian Gulf War occurred between 1990 and 1991. Iraq owed a debt to Kuwait, so they asked the OPEC members to cut back on their oil production, raising prices, so they could pay their

Oil spills can harm the wildlife, and even the people too. Most of the time, terrorist attacks and equipment malfunctions are the cause of oil spills. Leaks stretch for miles, covering a large amount of water, as well as washing up on shores, making it a threat to several species. These spills can contaminate bodies of water and smother cold-blooded animals, causing them to die from lack of control over their body temperatures. In the article, “Oil Spill Remediation Efforts In The Middle East,” “Such a large amount of oil spread over such a large area poses a serious environmental hazard to air, land, and ground water resources as well as to humans” (Kostreba). Leilani Kostreba explains how spills can be destructive and hazardous to the Earth, suffocating wildlife, as well as polluting the atmosphere. Crude oil is having a negative impact on the environment, disrupting the earth, and harming