Oil & Gas

Even in a more carbon-conscious world, oil and gas will continue to play a significant role in the global energy system. From petrochemicals to power generation, oil and gas technologies will be a central player in the “dual challenge” of meeting increased energy demand and the need for low-carbon energy, making oil and gas still critical for international trade, investment, and geopolitics.

Recent analysis

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

UkraineAlert
Apr 9, 2025

Putin’s Arctic ambitions: Russia eyes natural resources and shipping routes

By
Bohdan Ustymenko

Russia’s plans to expand its influence in the Arctic region and dominate the Northern Sea Route together with China pose serious security challenges for the international community, writes Bohdan Ustymenko.

China
Conflict

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

EnergySource
Mar 28, 2025

Nord Stream could divide Europe yet again 

By
Michał Kurtyka

Washington’s potential reset with Moscow, amid Ukraine peace negotiations, has revived discussions on the future of Nord Stream 2. Whether the Trump administration would cede its LNG market in Europe to Russian pipeline exports remains to be seen. For Europe, however, reopening the pipeline would be a costly mistake.

Eastern Europe
Economy & Business

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

MENASource
Mar 13, 2025

Why now is the right time for ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran’s oil exports

By
Scott Modell

Iran is more vulnerable than it has been in decades; the United States can deliver a decisive blow to Tehran and set the stage for a more stable and secure future.

Defense Policy
Economy & Business

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

Global Energy Forum

Jan 8, 2018

Shaping Iraq’s oil and gas future

By
Ellen Scholl

Oil production already provides much-needed revenue and economic development and underwrites the Iraqi federal budget. Meanwhile, gas development could also play a key role in Iraq’s future by fostering broad based economic development, improving electric service provision, and fostering value-added industries.


Energy & Environment

Iraq


Global Energy Forum

Mar 20, 2017

Downstream oil theft: Implications and next steps

By
Dr. Ian M. Ralby

On January 13, 2017, the Atlantic Council launched a major study on downstream oil theft at its inaugural Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Downstream Oil Theft: Implications and Next Steps draws on the launch event to examine the implications of the study's findings and to suggest tangible next steps in both further investigating this global scourge and beginning to confront it effectively.


Energy & Environment

Oil and Gas


Global Energy Forum

Jan 6, 2017

Downstream oil theft: Global modalities, trends, and remedies

By
Ian M. Ralby

Hydrocarbons crime, in all its forms, has become a significant threat not only to local and regional prosperity but also to global stability and security. Combating this pervasive criminal activity is made only more difficult by the reality that many of those in a position to curb hydrocarbons crime are the ones benefiting from it.


Energy & Environment

Oil and Gas

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Content

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

EnergySource

Apr 18, 2019

Gas Directive: Overly burdensome regulation of the EU gas market?

By Danila Bochkarev

On 15 April, the Council of the European Union (EU) backed a controversial revision of the EU Gas Directive, which was already adopted at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels on 4 April. This adoption by the Council is the last step in the legislative initiative. However, the story began in November […]

Energy Markets & Governance European Union

Article

Apr 16, 2019

The LNG moment: How US production could change more than just markets

By Dr. Paula Stern

Adapted from comments given by The Honorable Paula Stern, Ph.D. at the Atlantic Council IN TURKEY Program’s “New Regional Gas Market Dynamics under LNG Expansion & the Shale Gas Revolution” conference on February 26, 2019, with contributions from Ben Perkins. Last March the Economist ran the headline, “Global powers need to take the geopolitics out […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

EnergySource

Apr 11, 2019

Why the massive floating bomb in the Red Sea needs urgent attention

By Dr. Ian Ralby, Dr. David Soud, and Rohini Ralby

A floating storage and offloading (FSO) terminal less than five miles off the coast of Yemen has turned into a massive bomb—capable of explosion due to its contents and lack of maintenance. The risk of explosion increases by the day, and if that were to happen, not only would it damage or sink any ships […]

Middle East Oil and Gas

EnergySource

Apr 8, 2019

Addressing the invisible supply chain

By Dr. Ian Ralby, Dr. David Soud, and Rohini Ralby

This post is the third in a series of three that focuses on 1) defining, 2) mapping, and 3) addressing the invisible supply chain. You can read the first and second posts here.  Criminals have the advantage of being agile. They are unencumbered by the constraints that impede the governments and institutions arrayed against them. A criminal […]

Oil and Gas

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

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Mar 28, 2019

Mapping the invisible supply chain

By Dr. Ian Ralby, Dr. David Soud, and Rohini Ralby

This post is the second in a series of three that will focus on 1) defining, 2) mapping, and 3) addressing the invisible supply chain. You can read the first post here. In the autumn of 2017, Italian authorities busted a lucrative smuggling ring that was bringing hundreds of millions of liters of stolen Libyan […]

Energy & Environment Oil and Gas

EnergySource

Mar 20, 2019

Defining the invisible supply chain

By Dr. Ian Ralby, Dr. David Soud, and Rohini Ralby

This post is the first in a series of three that will focus on 1) defining, 2) mapping, and 3) addressing the invisible supply chain. In 2014, the Wall Street Journal published a story detailing how the Saltpond Oil Field off the coast of Ghana was exporting as much as five times the crude oil […]

Oil and Gas

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
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Experts

Fellow

Marino Auffant

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Staff

Reed Blakemore

Director, Research and Programs

Global Energy Center

Geopolitics & Energy Security Energy Transitions

Fellow

Neil Ford

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Energy & Environment

Fellow

Agnia Grigas

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Eastern Europe Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Mamadou Fall Kane

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Energy & Environment

Fellow

Inwook Kim

Nonresident Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English Geopolitics & Energy Security
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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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