Energy World
Intensifying political, economic, and technological competition are colliding with an evolving global energy system shaped by emerging technologies and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to slow climate change. At the same time, soaring domestic oil and natural gas production, booming AI-driven electricity consumption, tensions in other energy-producing regions, and demand for critical minerals and other energy-related commodities are powerfully affecting American national security, U.S. competitiveness, relations with key allies, and global energy markets. Energy World covers the implications of these developments in one of the most strategic—and most complex—economic sectors.
The Center for the National Interest gratefully acknowledges support from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for The National Interest’s Energy World blog. The National Interest’s editors retain sole control over Energy World’s content.
Trump’s “Energy Dominance,” in Practice, is Self-Contradictory
Energy dominance, though a laudable goal, is problematic at a time when OPEC+ seems to be trying to shoehorn its own volumes into the market. These are not good times...
Stories from Energy World
Will Trump’s New Sanctions Approach Finally Cut off Iran’s Oil Exports?
Trump’s new sanctions approach may be the strategy to finally turn the Iranian oil spigot off for good. The Trump administration announced a new round of sanctions measures on March...
Proceed with Caution: The Price of Neglecting Safety for SMRs
Small modular reactors (SMRs) may be the way to a greener future, but there is a price to be paid if atomic energy regulators neglect their safety as well. Small...
South Korea-United States Nuclear Cooperation: A Key to Both Nations’ Prosperity
South Korea and the United States must leverage nuclear cooperation to cut costs, boost energy security, accelerate decarbonization, and lead the global nuclear energy market. The Energy Challenges Facing Both...
A “Sputnik Moment” in Deep Sea Mining
China’s deep-sea mining deal with the Cook Islands raises the stakes in critical mineral competition, with the United States at risk of falling behind. In February, the Cook Islands announced a...
Southwest Nixes Fuel Hedging Program: Has It Been Too Complacent?
For now, Southwest’s nixing of its fuel hedging program tunes out the risk of a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. In addition to annoying us all by ending their...
Trump’s Nord Stream 2 Gambit Puts Europe’s Energy Future Back in Putin’s Grip
Europe’s energy future is at risk as Trump’s Nord Stream 2 negotiations threaten energy security and deepen reliance on Russian gas. When Donald Trump spoke at the United Nations to warn Germany...
Transatlantic Ties are Fraying, but the LNG Trade is Still Robust
European leaders need to resolutely focus on getting back cheap energy to boost European growth. Since 2022, Europe has become critically reliant on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from...
United States-Saudi Transactional Diplomacy and the Synergy of Saudi Mining
United States-Saudi diplomacy is increasingly seeming to take on a transactional flavor, especially with regards to the Saudi mining industry. The Trump administration has established that energy dominance is a...
Taking the Lead on Clean Power? The Prospects and Perils of UK Leadership
The prospects and perils of the UK taking the lead on clean power in the wake of the United States’s withdrawal from the Paris Accords remain to be seen. Having...
Deploying Nuclear Power the Donald’s Way
The United States must prioritize deploying nuclear power to counter Russia and China and compete globally. President Donald Trump made his fortune by driving construction pilings in the ground, not...
OPEC+ Finally Grasps the Nettle
OPEC+ finally grasps the nettle and is finally raising output quotas for a subset of participants. It has been a long time coming. OPEC+ affirmed on March 3 that it...
The Ukraine Mineral Resources Agreement – A Strategic Partnership in Progress?
The Ukraine Mineral Resources Agreement that was rejected by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has potential, but further safeguards are needed to prevent abuse. I. Introduction The Ukraine Mineral Resources Agreement, initially...