The OPEC oil embargo declared on October 17, 1973, was primarily a response to the Yom Kippur War, which began on October 6, 1973, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. The conflict drew in various countries, and the United States provided military support to Israel during the war, which angered many Arab nations.
In retaliation for the U.S. support of Israel and in an effort to pressure Western countries to reconsider their policies towards Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict, OPEC members, particularly those in the Arab world, decided to impose an oil embargo on nations that they perceived as supporting Israel, including the United States and several Western European countries. The embargo resulted in significant increases in oil prices and had substantial economic repercussions globally, leading to inflation, economic recession in some regions, and a realization in the West of its heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
The embargo lasted until March 1974 and marked a significant turning point in international relations and energy policy, highlighting the geopolitical power of oil-producing nations.