EU's Energy Dependence Threatens Its Global Influence, Experts Call for Strategic Overhaul

Conflicts from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to unrest in the Middle East have underscored Europe's susceptibility to external energy sources, diminishing its geopolitical clout. Energy has become a lever of state power, with Russia historically weaponising supplies, while the United States and China have built resilience through domestic production and renewable investments. In the US, policies dating back to the 1973 oil crisis and intensified under Donald Trump have expanded oil, gas, and clean-energy output.

China, meanwhile, pours resources into renewables, storage, and naval protection of energy shipments. The EU, by contrast, often acts only after crises, such as the phased ban on Russian pipeline gas, and lacks the political capacity for bold reforms. To regain strategic autonomy, Europe must accelerate renewable generation, broaden electrification, strengthen infrastructure, and create diversified supply chains, treating energy policy as a core component of security and industrial competitiveness. Without such a shift, the EU risks a reduced role in the global economy and geopolitics in the coming decades.