In the context of the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, the issue of the relationship between national and energy security of the United States is particularly acute. According to the author of the New York Times, the greatest threat traditionally comes from Russia and China. Russia’s energy dominance over Europe is undeniable, but the US is now even more in the orbit of dependency, risking also China’s growing power to control raw materials – the key to a clean energy future.
Another challenge facing the United States, which is so long-suffering today, is to try to prevent this from happening.
The confidence of the European and American communities in energy security is now fading away.
Germany now depends on Russian suppliers for nearly two-thirds of its natural gas and on the European Union for about 40 percent. Even taking into account the sanctions imposed by the transatlantic alliance, most likely they will not stop Nord Stream-2. The dynamic energy supply chain from Russia to the European markets will obviously continue to be one of the main trump cards of the Russian president.
In the United States, gasoline prices are at levels not seen since 2014. The U.S. is still tied to the international oil markets, which are increasingly responsive to changes in the situation around Ukraine. Most dangerous is the fact that the American consumer is suffering because of the sharp rise in fuel and gas prices.
The energy crisis is having a much bigger impact on the US than is widely reported. American independence is such to a much lesser extent.
Are the US and its allies focused enough on the risks of today’s energy reality? Have they set themselves up for a future in which they have free access to the raw materials needed for new technologies?
The answer is no – they are more likely to be outflanked by more successful opponents (of which China is arguably the greatest threat). The point is that the transition to clean energy and electric vehicles, while reducing dependence on oil, guarantees a new economic subordination to China, which controls the supply of critical minerals for modern batteries.