The Weaponization of Energy: How Oil and Gas Shape Global Power

Energy powers everything—from homes and cars to factories and entire economies. But beyond its role in economic development, energy is political power. Nations rich in oil and gas have long used these resources to assert influence, build alliances, and even wage economic warfare.

The weaponization of energy refers to the strategic use of energy resources to influence or coerce other nations. This can take the form of withholding supplies, manipulating prices, or using energy access as a political bargaining chip. In a world increasingly defined by competition over resources, energy has become a frontline tool in the geopolitical chessboard.

Energy and Power: A Historical Perspective

The idea of using energy for strategic advantage has been around for over a century, evolving alongside global conflicts and political transformations.

• World War I and II: Both global wars underscored the importance of oil. Control over oil fields and supply lines became crucial to military campaigns. The Allies' access to Middle Eastern oil, for example, was a major factor in their victory over the Axis powers.

• 1973 Oil Embargo: In response to Western support for Israel during the Yom Kippur War, OPEC's Arab members imposed an oil embargo on the U.S. and its allies. Oil prices quadrupled overnight, triggering a severe economic recession and exposing the West’s dependency on Middle Eastern oil.

• Cold War Tactics: The Soviet Union supplied energy at subsidized prices to Eastern Bloc countries as a tool of political control. Energy dependency ensured their loyalty and discouraged alignment with the West.

  
  

These examples illustrate a fundamental truth: energy resources are not just economic tools—they are instruments of national strategy.

The Modern Energy Map: Who Holds the Power?

Today’s energy landscape is shaped by a few key players, each wielding oil and gas as a source of power and leverage.

Russia

As one of the world's largest producers of oil and natural gas, Russia has used its vast reserves to cement its influence over Europe and parts of Asia. For decades, countries like Germany, Hungary, and Italy depended heavily on Russian gas imports. This dependency gave Moscow a critical economic lever to apply political pressure whenever relations soured.

Saudi Arabia and OPEC

Saudi Arabia, as the de facto leader of OPEC, can influence global oil prices by increasing or decreasing output. OPEC+—a broader group that includes Russia—works to stabilize prices but also uses production decisions strategically to counter Western policies or protect revenue interests.

United States

The U.S. shale revolution has transformed the country into the world’s largest oil and gas producer. It now exports liquefied natural gas (LNG) and uses energy diplomacy as part of its foreign policy, particularly in supporting allies like Europe during crises.

China

While not a major producer, China is the world’s largest energy consumer and importer. This dependency has driven Beijing to seek diversified supply chains, build strategic reserves, and invest in energy infrastructure across the globe through its Belt and Road Initiative.

Russia and Europe: Gas as a Geopolitical Weapon

One of the clearest and most recent examples of energy weaponization is Russia’s manipulation of gas supplies to Europe.

Decades of Dependency

European nations, particularly Germany and Eastern Europe, have relied on Russian gas delivered through pipelines like Nord Stream 1, Yamal-Europe, and Druzhba. This relationship was initially seen as mutually beneficial—Europe got cheap energy, and Russia got a steady revenue stream.

The 2022 Turning Point

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the geopolitical cost of this dependency became painfully clear. In response to Western sanctions, Russia drastically cut gas supplies to Europe, exacerbating the continent’s energy crisis.

• Gas prices soared to record highs.

• Industries across Europe scaled back operations or shut down.

• Governments scrambled to find alternative suppliers and secure reserves for winter.

Russia’s message was clear: defy us, and you’ll pay the price—in energy.

Europe’s Strategic Shift

Faced with this crisis, European nations began a dramatic realignment:

• Diversifying imports by securing LNG deals with the U.S., Qatar, and Norway.

• Fast-tracking renewable energy investments to reduce long-term dependency.

• Implementing conservation policies and investing in energy efficiency.

The episode underlined the dangers of over-reliance on authoritarian energy suppliers—and the urgency of energy diversification.

OPEC’s Strategic Maneuvering

OPEC, and particularly Saudi Arabia, has long used oil production as a strategic tool to shape the global economic and political landscape.

Controlling Supply, Influencing Prices

When oil prices fall below a certain threshold, OPEC can cut production to push prices back up. Conversely, if prices spike, they can increase output to stabilize markets—though they don't always do so.

In 2022, amid a global energy crunch and mounting inflation, Western leaders urged OPEC+ to increase production. Instead, the group cut output, asserting control over global pricing and prioritizing its own economic interests.

Political Signaling

By defying U.S. and European requests, OPEC signaled that it would not be pressured into decisions that hurt its members. This was viewed not just as an economic move, but a political message asserting autonomy from Western influence.

OPEC’s choices ripple across the world—affecting not only fuel prices but also inflation, food costs, and economic stability in oil-importing nations.

The United States: From Consumer to Strategic Supplier

The U.S. has evolved from being dependent on foreign oil to becoming a major exporter and energy influencer.

Shale Boom and LNG Exports

Thanks to fracking and horizontal drilling, the U.S. unlocked vast shale reserves in Texas, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania. By the late 2010s, it surpassed Saudi Arabia and Russia in oil and gas production.

Energy as a Diplomatic Tool

• During the Ukraine crisis, the U.S. supplied LNG to Europe to help reduce dependency on Russian gas.

• It has used sanctions on energy exports (e.g., Iran, Venezuela, Russia) to exert pressure on adversaries.

• The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) was used to release oil and control domestic prices during global disruptions.

The U.S. is no longer just an energy consumer—it is an energy power broker.

Iran and Venezuela: Sanctions and Energy as Resistance

When sanctioned, some nations use energy not just for survival, but as a form of resistance.

Iran

With one of the largest oil reserves, Iran has faced decades of sanctions, particularly over its nuclear program. Yet it continues to export oil through informal networks, often trading oil for goods or selling to sympathetic nations like China.

It also funds proxy forces in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen—using oil revenues to extend regional influence, despite economic constraints.

Venezuela

Once among the world’s top exporters, Venezuela’s economy collapsed under corruption, mismanagement, and sanctions. Still, it has struck energy deals with countries like China and Iran and used oil diplomacy to regain political footing in Latin America.

These countries illustrate that even under economic pressure, energy remains a tool for geopolitical maneuvering.

The Rise of LNG and Changing Energy Geography

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has revolutionized energy politics by enabling gas to be shipped globally—detaching gas dependency from fixed pipelines.

Strategic Advantages

• Mobility: Countries can buy from a global market, not just regional pipelines.

• New alliances: LNG creates new trading partners, such as U.S.-EU gas cooperation.

• Resilience: Diversification reduces vulnerability to supply disruptions or blackmail.
  

Strategic Concerns

• LNG terminals are expensive and vulnerable to sabotage or cyberattack.

• Shipping routes, like the Suez Canal or Strait of Malacca, become new geopolitical chokepoints.

The rise of LNG adds flexibility—but also new vulnerabilities.

The Future: Green Energy and a New Energy Race

As the world transitions to renewables, energy weaponization is entering a new era.

Critical Minerals: The New Oil

Renewables depend on rare earths, lithium, cobalt, and nickel—materials concentrated in a few countries:

• China controls over 60% of rare earth processing.

• Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia hold most of the world’s lithium.

• Congo dominates cobalt production.

These resources could be weaponized just like oil—by restricting exports, manipulating prices, or favoring allies.

Green Technology and Influence

• China leads in solar panels, electric vehicle batteries, and wind technology.

• The U.S. and EU are investing heavily in green infrastructure to reduce dependency.

• Control over green tech will shape future global dominance just as oil did in the 20th century.

The question remains: Will the green transition decentralize power—or simply shift it to new players?

Conclusion: Energy Is Geopolitics

Energy has always been more than just fuel—it is leverage, influence, and power. Whether through pipelines, tankers, or lithium mines, the weaponization of energy shapes international relations in fundamental ways.

Key Takeaways:

• Nations that control energy can influence economies, pressure governments, and reshape alliances.

• Dependency on a single supplier, especially authoritarian regimes, creates profound strategic risks.

• The rise of green energy will not eliminate the weaponization of resources—it will simply evolve the battlefield.
  

The challenge for the 21st century is not just generating energy sustainably—but governing it fairly and securely.