Energy as the International Security Factor
Energy as the International Security Factor

Author(s): Karel Hirman
Subject(s): Politics, Supranational / Global Economy, Energy and Environmental Studies, International relations/trade, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (RC SFPA)
Keywords: Energy; economy; Slovakia; 2006; security; international relations; Russia; Ukraine; gas; EU;
Summary/Abstract: In 2006, the issue of global energy policy became one of the most important and most debated topics of international politics. It was also one of the key issues on the agenda at the St. Petersburg’s G8 summit. At the same time it dominated the agenda of the EU member states and European Commission inside the EU as well as in relations towards third states, especially towards Russia, the countries of Central Asia and Northern Africa. In 2006, the United States and Japan traditionally focused their attention on the issue and were followed by emerging economic powers such as China, India or Brazil. The problems connected with oil production being the determining energy raw material became a strategically important aspect of international political, security and domestic crisis in the Persian Gulf, some African countries (Sudan, Nigeria) and South America (Venezuela, Bolivia). Thus, in 2006, an unstable and unclear situation at the international energy markets continued. In the second half of the year the situation calmed down and even the prices of oil and other raw materials decreased after the long-term period of continual growth. Considering the ongoing security crisis in the Middle East concerning the Iranian nuclear program or ‘complicated’ Russia – USA relations or EU – CIS relations the uncertainty at the markets will go along with 2007. Thus, despite the positive economic signals and energy consumption trends, it could lead to the oil and other raw materials price increase.

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