US pushes energy self-sufficiency at G20 summit while sidestepping Iran conflict

During the G20 energy ministers conference in Houston, the United States reiterated its strategy of expanding oil and gas output to guarantee cheap, secure energy for both domestic use and its partners. EPA chief Lee Zeldin criticized the previous administration's renewable focus, labeling it climate alarmism, and the agency announced looser pollution limits for gas and coal plants, drawing environmental criticism. Interior Secretary Doug Bergum argued that the nation’s low-cost energy is the most secure source worldwide, especially as AI-driven electricity demand climbs.

The meeting largely avoided addressing the February 28 U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, despite recent closures of the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi advances toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that have spiked oil prices. Analysts warned that the Middle-East supply shock cannot be quickly remedied, and the U.S. is counting on long-term projects such as a deal to control about one-fifth of Venezuela’s oil reserves, though the country’s infrastructure needs significant upgrades. Experts cautioned that a harsh European winter could exacerbate supply constraints if diplomatic solutions in the Middle East and Ukraine remain elusive.