Russia's Energy Policy : Dependence, Networks and Special Relationships
by
Ozawa, Marc
NATO Defence College (IT)
This Research Paper has two central questions. First, is Russia using natural gas as an instrument of power to influence NATO member states in Europe ? Second, if so, then how is it being used to influence their foreign and domestic policies ? For NATO, this is an important question because energy supply disruptions can cripple not only military mobility and operations, but also the economic well-being of member states. While a strong economy is not solely dependent on natural resources, without access to them, the industries and economies that support the military are left vulnerable. Under the right conditions, severing access to (or manipulating the cost of) vital natural resources can have significant economic, social, political and even national security consequences. For NATO, this was clearly demonstrated by the oil crises in the 1970s. The notion that nation states, if given the opportunity, will use economic statecraft to address defense and security disputes is not new. But understanding how petrostates, such as Russia, leverage their neighbors’ energy needs for political ends is still a developing topic. Understanding the subtle intricacies of this issue is needed in order to: 1) moderate growing disagreements among Allies and Partner Nations in regard to Russia-NATO relations; and 2) avoid the perception that the Allies no longer share a common vision for the Euro-Atlantic security community.
Cultural Perspectives, Geopolitics & Energy Security of Eurasia : Is the Next Global Conflict Imminent ?
by
Ibrahimov, Mahir, 1956- , ed.
New Realities : Energy Security in the 2010s and Implications for the U.S. Military
by
Deni, John R., ed.
US Army War College. Strategic Studies Institute (US)
Revolutionary changes among energy producers and dramatically altered patterns of energy consumption across the planet are having profound implications for American national security in general and the U.S. Army specifically. The U.S. Army War College gathered experts from the policymaking community, academia, think tanks, the private sector, and the military services at the Reserve Officers Association in Washington, DC, in November 2013 to address first the major 'new realities,' both geographically and technologically, and then the specific military implications. The chapters of this compendium are based on the presentations delivered at that conference, which was funded through the generous support of the U.S. Army War College Foundation.
Strategies et geopolitiques russes des hydrocarbures : un defi pour l'Europe
by
Mongrenier, Jean-Sylvestre
La doxa voulait, un temps, que les dirigeants russes pratiquent une politique energetique tendue vers la seule valorisation des immenses ressources du pays. Depuis, les crises qui ont oppose la Russie a ses voisins ont mis au jour une logique de puissance irreductible a la simple rationalite economique. Les exportations energetiques sont un outil de pouvoir pour retablir les positions de cet Etat-continent dans l'aire post-sovietique. Au-dela, il s'agit de reconstituer la puissance russe pour peser en Europe et dans les equilibres mondiaux. La chose ne peut laisser indifferent son voisinage, proche et lointain.
L'enjeu énergétique dans les Balkans : stratégie russe et sécurité européenne
by
Glamotchak, Marina
Avec l'effondrement du communisme qui a provoque la rupture des equilibres issus du bipolarisme militaire de la guerre froide, la mutation du monde economique a, entre autres bouleversements, initie un nouveau rapport de force. Au point qu'un nouveau 'Grand jeu' se deroule avec, cette fois, pour toile de fond l'approvisionnement energetique de toute une partie de l'Europe. C'est ce nouveau 'Grand jeu' que l'auteur nous decrit ici de facon magistrale avec la double expertise qui est la sienne : celle d'une specialiste de l'energie et d'une experte des Balkans. C'est que les Balkans representent pour la Russie un enjeu essentiel : les exportations d'hydrocarbures constituent une source majeure de revenus en meme temps qu'un excellent instrument d'influence geopolitique. Les positions qu'elle a acquise dans le domaine de l'energie, ainsi que le projet du gazoduc South Stream, doivent l'aider a contrecarrer les mesures prises par l'Union europeenne pour diversifer ses approvisionnements, principalement gaziers. L'Union europeenne veut echapper a une forme de dependance envers Moscou; une dependance qui pese notamment sur certains pays de l'ancien bloc de l'Est, alimentant des tensions a repetition. Outre l'elaboration de cinq projets concurrentiels de gazoducs du Corridor du Sud, l'Union europeenne a mis en place avec les pays de l'Europe du Sud-Est une 'Communaute de l'energie'. Pour les differentes nations des Balkans, l'avenir geopolitique et energetique decrit par l'auteur est egalement passionnant. Ou bien ils se tourneront vers l'Union europeenne, ou bien vers la Russie, pensera-t-on en general. Mais l'auteur laisse entrevoir une troisieme hypothese : ils feront les deux et la Russie, par le biais de l'energie et grace a South Stream, se retrouverait en quelque sorte 'membre honoraire' de l'Union europeenne.
Promoting International Energy Security. Volume 1 : Understanding Potential Air Force Roles
by
Bartis, James T.
Chinese Energy Security : The Myth of the PLAN's Frontline Status
by
Clarke, Ryan
US Army War College. Strategic Studies Institute (US)
A key aim of this work is to demonstrate that the greatest threat to Chinese energy security is domestic market inefficiencies and perverse incentive structures, thus clearly highlighting the 'myth' of the PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) frontline status. As the Sino-US relationship continues to assume greater strategic importance, energy security is a component that Washington and Beijing can simply not afford to get wrong. As opposed to dedicating substantial resources to planning for conflict scenarios that are based upon fundamentally flawed conceptions, namely, naval blockades designed to starve China of energy resources or strategies to preempt or circumvent one of these blockades, both parties would be much better served by focusing on sound economics and distribution/refining practices. Cooperation in this sphere is not only a much more immediate and realistic option; it also deals with the root of the dilemma, something which is clearly in the interests of the United States as well as China.