Geopolitics & Energy Security

Geopolitics & Energy Security

The combination of energy and geopolitics can disrupt regional stability and have major effects on global energy markets. By monitoring challenges and opportunities at this intersection, emerging risks can be identified and trends can be highlighted to provide a clearer picture of the global energy landscape.

Recent analysis

Attacks on Saudi oil stations raise tensions in volatile Gulf

Dispatches
Mar 17, 2026

How the Iran war could trigger a European energy crisis

By
Lisa Basquel

Refilling Europe’s depleted gas storage—already a difficult task given the continent’s efforts to stop purchasing Russian gas—is even more difficult now with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed.

Conflict
Economy & Business

Attacks on Saudi oil stations raise tensions in volatile Gulf

UkraineAlert
Mar 17, 2026

The Iran war is good for the Russian economy but bad for Putin’s prestige

By
Maksym Beznosiuk, Will Dixon

From Armenia and Syria to Venezuela and Iran, Moscow’s inability since 2022 to aid its allies in times of crisis has seriously damaged Russia’s reputation as a global power, write Maksym Beznosiuk and Will Dixon.

Conflict
Geopolitics & Energy Security

Attacks on Saudi oil stations raise tensions in volatile Gulf

Dispatches
Mar 13, 2026

Romania’s drone and energy plans with Ukraine make Europe stronger and more secure

Romanian President Nicușor Dan hosted his Ukrainian counterpart on March 12, underscoring Bucharest’s growing role in regional security.

Drones
Geopolitics & Energy Security

Programs

The Global Energy Center develops and promotes pragmatic and nonpartisan policy solutions designed to advance global energy security, enhance economic opportunity, and accelerate pathways to net-zero emissions.

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Events

New Atlanticist

Jan 22, 2021

COP26: The key trends to watch ahead of the world’s next climate conference

By
Larry Luxner

COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland—delayed until November 2021—is more likely to produce significant results now that US President Joe Biden occupies the White House, said a group of experts meeting virtually the day after Biden’s inauguration.


Energy & Environment

Energy Markets & Governance


Global Energy Forum

Jan 21, 2021

The many new ways energy and national security are intersecting

By
Larry Luxner

Oil and gas will still play a crucial role in the world’s economy even as clean-energy “electrostates” rise in prominence, and Biden will prioritize the threat of climate change like no president has before him.


Energy & Environment

Energy Markets & Governance

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Content

New Atlanticist

May 14, 2019

Attacks on Saudi oil stations raise tensions in volatile Gulf

By David A. Wemer

Drones purportedly flown by Houthi rebels in Yemen attacked Saudi oil pumping stations on May 14, creating a new flash point in a region already on edge over rising tensions between the United States and Iran.

Conflict Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Apr 25, 2019

Skepticism casts a shadow over China’s Belt and Road Summit

By David A. Wemer

Despite the considerable investment and international interest in the project, criticism of Beijing’s approach has grown in recent years.

China Geopolitics & Energy Security

New Atlanticist

Apr 22, 2019

Trump’s inconsistent approach to Iran oil waivers means he can’t have his cake and eat it too

By Randolph Bell

The United States had achieved one of its goals—bringing oil prices down—but only partially achieved its goal of inflicting “maximum pressure” on Iran.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Geopolitics & Energy Security

New Atlanticist

Apr 22, 2019

A look at the implications of Trump’s decision to end sanctions waivers for countries importing Iranian oil

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The mover could spark backlash from Iran and the countries that continue to buy Iranian oil.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Geopolitics & Energy Security

In the News

Apr 16, 2019

Robert Manning in Foreign Policy about North Korea nuclear arsenal

By Atlantic Council

English Geopolitics & Energy Security

EnergySource

Mar 29, 2019

Black Sea natural gas games: A fork in the road for the BRUA Pipeline project

By Nolan Theisen and John Szabo

Hopes were riding high on the discovery of Romania’s Black Sea natural gas deposits in 2012, which were expected to provide a cheap and local source of the fuel for Central and South Eastern Europe (CSEE). ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom would carry out the offshore production, and the Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria (BRUA) pipeline project, formally conceived in […]

Central Europe Eastern Europe

UkraineAlert

Mar 25, 2019

The real Russian candidate in Ukraine’s presidential race

By Anders Åslund

On March 22, nine days before the Ukrainian presidential election, Ukraine’s pro-Russian presidential candidate Yuriy Boyko went to Moscow to meet Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev without prior announcement. It’s strange for a presidential candidate to visit a leader of a country with which it is at war, but that was only the beginning of […]

Corruption Elections

EnergySource

Mar 15, 2019

A European view: Europe, Nord Stream 2, and diversification

By Friedbert Pflüger

Preface During his 2019 State of the Union speech, President Donald Trump claimed credit for getting European NATO members to pay an additional $100 billion in military outlays to the alliance by the end of 2020. Similarly, instead of raising the specter of further sanctions on Russia that would impact European allies, the United States […]

Central Europe Eastern Europe

UkraineAlert

Mar 5, 2019

European involvement with Nord Stream 2 is a deal with the devil

By Stephen Blank

Apart from the bypassing of Ukraine and the potential corrupting of German politics, Nord Stream 2 essentially forces German and Eastern European states and customers to subsidize Russian state expenses and unwittingly assist in Naftogaz’s destruction.

Energy Markets & Governance European Union

Event Recap

Feb 27, 2019

New regional gas market dynamics under LNG expansion and the shale gas revolution

By Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Recent global and regional developments driving changes in regional natural gas markets as well as future trends have been discussed at the Atlantic Council IN TURKEY Program’s conference held in Istanbul on “New Regional Gas Market Dynamics under LNG Expansion and Shale Gas Revolution”. The conference gathered high-level representatives of the public and private sectors […]

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
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Experts

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic China

Fellow

Yesar Al-Maleki

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Geopolitics & Energy Security

Fellow

Shahira Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Economy & Business

Expert

Defne Arslan

Senior Director

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Fellow

Marino Auffant

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Staff

Kiran Baez

Program Assistant

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Central Asia Geopolitics & Energy Security
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Events

Public Event Wed, May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The 2026 Iraq Dialogue
Geopolitics & Energy Security Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
Flagship Event Tue, June 9, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

2026 Global Energy Forum

The tenth Global Energy Forum will chart the course for continued innovation, collaboration, and leadership in the global energy transition. 
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