ORIENTIR | March 23. Are there perfect storms? Unlikely, in my opinion... However, the world entered the workweek of March 23, 2026, in what some experts have called a "perfect storm." This isn't just a crisis, but a fatal confluence of circumstances, where political will, economic chaos, and the physical destruction of supply routes collided.

While stock market boards flash red and global media headlines compete in apocalypticism, we invite you to take a look behind the scenes to understand what really drives markets and where to find solid ground in this ocean of instability.

So why does the "safe haven" sometimes rock? Monday morning presented a “golden paradox” – the price of the metal briefly dropped to $2,165 before again soaring to $2,205 per troy ounce.

To the uninitiated, this may seem like weakness, but the truth is deeper. In moments of global panic, large funds sell off gold not because it's losing value, but, as experts believe, because it's the only liquid asset that can be instantly converted into cash to salvage sinking stock portfolios.

Gold serves the same function in the global financial system as blood does in a living organism, and price fluctuations in the precious metal are merely a brief respite before a new surge. The world is still consumed by the idea that paper money burns, while metal lasts forever.

On the energy front, the situation remains tense due to the volatile price of Brent crude, which has so far settled at $114.20 per barrel, up $2.80 since Friday. Experts have finally digested the news from Doha, where an emergency summit of gas exporters confirmed that there is no "quick supply" for the market.

On the energy front, the situation remains tense due to the volatile price of Brent crude, which has stabilized at $114.20 per barrel, up $2.80 since Friday. Experts have finally digested the news from Doha, where an emergency gas exporters summit confirmed that there is no "quick supply" for the market.

Meanwhile, gas in Europe has occasionally soared to $1,420 per thousand cubic meters. The market is painfully aware of the implications of the news from Doha, which has made it clear that there will be no quick return of Qatari resources. And that the mothballing of Qatari plants is not a technical glitch, but a real withdrawal of 20% of global LNG from the market for many months.

Added to this is the "fear tax," triggered by the news that shipowners are being forced to unofficially pay $2 million for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. And judging by the latest data, this is no longer an isolated incident. It's a new, cynical reality: maritime logistics has become a blackmail zone. And here, previously accepted rules and laws have vanished into oblivion.

Against this bleak backdrop, the importance of resource independence becomes especially clear. While the price of a liter of gasoline in London and Berlin is storming the three-dollar mark, in our region it remains at 60-65 cents. This is no coincidence, but the result of a policy of energy self-sufficiency.

World leaders are openly concerned, from Donald Trump's harsh statements to Beijing's pragmatic calls for secure overland routes.

In particular, the US President was extremely categorical in his address: "We are experiencing the greatest energy chaos in history. The world will drown in $300-per-barrel prices if we don't regain control!"

At the same time, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated: "China will support those partners who can guarantee the security of routes, protected from maritime piracy and political manipulation."

Question: Isn't this a signal to strengthen the land corridors of our region?

In light of the highly explosive situation, which is crossing previously established red lines, I would like to recall Turkmenistan's position, as expressed by National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in an interview with the international news channel China Global Television Network:

"As a neutral state, Turkmenistan does not interfere in conflicts. Therefore, our country does not accept the use of force in international relations.

For us, this is not only a practical political issue, but, above all, a moral one. Wars, above all, affect people, influencing their destinies, lives, dreams, and hopes. During war, everything can be lost in an instant. Therefore, instead of redoubling our efforts to wage war today, we must exert tenfold more effort to prevent it."

The current situation in the Middle East is far from new. But the experience of the 1973 crisis suggests that the current global energy storm is far more dangerous. Back then, in 1973, the crisis was political (an embargo) and the problem could have been resolved through active diplomacy. Today, however, we are talking about destroyed infrastructure—blocked gulfs, destroyed factories, and terminals. Therefore, if the situation continues, the economies that turn their attention to overland routes will fare well in the long run.

In this new reality, our region is becoming a reliable "energy shield." We are not dependent on the vagaries of sea straits, relying on reliable pipelines and our own abundant mineral resources.

In conclusion of our review, it is worth acknowledging that the scarcest commodity this Monday (and not only) was not gold, but our peace of mind. While the world is trying to reshape the map of the future, we continue our daily work on our soil, confidently navigating this stormy sea called Life.

Bekdurdy AMANSARYEV

Our ORIENTIR series will be published three times a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Until next time, on Wednesday, March 25th.