Isabella Carter
Energy diplomacy is a subfield of international relations and foreign policy that deals with external energy relations and energy security. It emerged in the first half of the 20th century, initially dominated by fossil fuel corporations rather than sovereign governments. Energy diplomacy has since evolved to encompass national security and foreign policy, with a focus on securing energy supplies, including fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and increasingly, sustainable energy. The field has become crucial in mitigating geopolitical risks and addressing climate change by promoting renewable technologies and energy efficiency. Energy diplomacy is employed as a tool to influence governments and policymakers, impacting economic development and overall security and prosperity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Focus | Securitization of energy supplies, including fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and sustainable energy |
| Began | First half of the twentieth century |
| Aims | To accelerate the global energy transition |
| Concerns | National security, foreign policy, and energy security |
| Energy Security | Ensuring energy supply security through resource-route diversification |
| EU Energy Diplomacy | Promoting energy efficiency, renewable technologies, and well-functioning global markets |
| Bilateral Energy Diplomacy | Strategic relations with energy at the core, extending to joint investments and technology collaboration |
| Geopolitics | Energy diplomacy is influenced by geopolitical shifts and technological changes |
| Economy | Energy concerns impact the economy, and economic development is a priority |
| Actors | Sovereign governments, corporations, international organizations, and regional actors |
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What You'll Learn
Energy security and foreign policy
The history of energy diplomacy is marked by the dominance of fossil fuel corporations in the early 20th century, with events like the second oil crisis and OPEC's actions further solidifying its importance. Today, energy diplomacy is crucial in addressing the complex interplay between energy and foreign policy.
The global energy landscape is currently undergoing a significant transition, moving away from a heavy reliance on fossil fuels towards cleaner and more renewable energy sources. This shift has profound geopolitical implications, as the relationship between energy producers and consumers evolves. Energy diplomacy plays a pivotal role in managing these changes and their impact on foreign policy.
For instance, the EU's energy diplomacy aims to accelerate a just and inclusive global energy transition, promoting renewable technologies and efficient global markets. At the same time, it navigates geopolitical risks and the climate impact of fossil fuels, advocating for a shift away from unabated fossil fuels. This involves addressing new energy security challenges, such as raw material supply chains, cybersecurity, and access to clean energy technologies.
Additionally, bilateral energy diplomacy is essential for countries to manage the geopolitical consequences of the low-carbon energy transition. Countries like those in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) benefit from fostering strategic bilateral relations that provide energy supply security, markets for monetization of hydrocarbon resources, and support for economic diversification.
In conclusion, energy security and foreign policy are intrinsically linked, with energy diplomacy serving as a vital tool to navigate the complex dynamics of the global energy transition, ensuring energy security, and shaping international relations.
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Energy as a tool of diplomacy
Energy diplomacy is a subfield of international relations and foreign policy that deals with external energy relations and energy security. It emerged in the first half of the twentieth century and gained prominence during the second oil crisis, which saw OPEC's actions and the quest for the United States to secure energy independence. Since then, energy diplomacy has played a crucial role in national security and foreign policy, with energy being recognised as a fundamental item on the national security agenda.
Energy is a vital tool for diplomacy, as it is essential for meeting basic human needs and supporting economic development. In a world where state actors heavily influence energy supplies, energy diplomacy becomes critical in managing geopolitical consequences and fostering cooperation. Countries that export hydrocarbons, for instance, need bilateral relations that go beyond energy and include investment and technology collaboration. Energy diplomacy can also help countries secure domestic energy supplies and access long-term markets for their resources, contributing to economic diversification and prosperity.
For example, Türkiye (Turkey), due to its proximity to energy-rich geographies, acts as a stable and secure energy player in its region. By pursuing multidimensional energy diplomacy, Türkiye maintains relations with all key actors, including its neighbours, to ensure energy supply security and promote peace. Similarly, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can benefit from bilateral energy diplomacy during their low-carbon energy transition, as it provides security of domestic energy supply and supports economic diversification.
In recent years, the focus of energy diplomacy has shifted towards clean and renewable energy sources due to environmental concerns and global warming. The EU's energy diplomacy, for instance, aims to accelerate a global transition to renewable technologies and well-functioning global markets. While fossil fuel security remains important, the EU also recognises the geopolitical risks and climate impacts associated with them. As a result, the EU is taking steps towards energy systems free of unabated fossil fuels, starting with coal, and calling for an end to environmentally harmful fossil fuel subsidies.
Energy diplomacy is a powerful tool that can shape foreign policies and international relations. It is a means to facilitate and guarantee the supply of affordable energy, address energy security concerns, and promote economic development. In a world where energy issues can bring entire economies to a standstill, energy diplomacy becomes essential in managing risks and fostering cooperation among nations.
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Energy transition and clean energy
Energy diplomacy is a subfield of international relations that emerged in the first half of the twentieth century. It has traditionally focused on the securitization of energy supplies, particularly fossil fuels. However, with the world transitioning towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, energy diplomacy is now playing a crucial role in accelerating the global energy transition.
The global energy system is undergoing a significant transformation, moving away from its heavy reliance on fossil fuels towards cleaner and more renewable energy sources. This transition is driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. As a result, energy diplomacy is increasingly focused on facilitating this transition and promoting the development and utilization of clean and renewable energy technologies.
EU energy diplomacy, for instance, aims to accelerate a just and inclusive global energy transition by promoting energy efficiency, renewable technologies, and well-functioning global markets. It calls for a shift away from unabated fossil fuels, starting with coal, and towards energy systems that are free from environmentally harmful fossil fuel subsidies. EU energy diplomacy also recognizes the transition role of natural gas, especially in light of Russia's weaponization of energy supplies, and works to safeguard the EU's energy security while avoiding new dependencies.
Bilateral energy diplomacy is also a key foreign policy tool in managing the geopolitical consequences of the low-carbon energy transition. Countries are developing special diplomatic relations with their strategic energy partners to navigate this transition effectively. Hydrocarbon-exporting countries, in particular, need bilateral relations that combine energy collaboration with investment and technology cooperation.
The end goal of renewable energy diplomacy is to achieve a conflict-free transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, with ecological protection and conflict resolution at its core. It involves addressing the geopolitical challenges associated with the energy transition and enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation on cleaner energy sources.
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Energy markets and trade
The global energy system is currently undergoing a significant transition away from a near-total dependence on fossil fuels towards clean and renewable energy sources. This transition is altering the relationship between energy producers and consumers, and its geopolitical consequences are a key concern for global energy leaders. Energy diplomacy is therefore increasingly concerned with managing this transition and its potential impacts on energy markets and trade.
For example, the EU's energy diplomacy aims to accelerate a just and inclusive global energy transition, promoting energy efficiency, renewable technologies, and well-functioning global markets. At the same time, the EU is also preparing for new energy security challenges, such as those stemming from raw material supply chains, cybersecurity, and access to clean energy technologies. EU energy diplomacy will continue to promote open and liquid global markets, while also supporting the diversification of energy sources and suppliers to reinforce the EU's energy security.
Energy diplomacy is also important for hydrocarbon-exporting countries, which need to develop bilateral relations that combine energy, investment, and technology collaboration. For instance, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strategic objectives in energy diplomacy that aim to foster relations with countries that can provide security of domestic energy supply, markets for the long-term monetization of hydrocarbon resources, and support for economic diversification. Similarly, Türkiye's energy diplomacy recognizes the advantages of its geopolitical position and acts as a bridge connecting energy supplies from the east to markets in the west.
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National security and economic development
Energy diplomacy is a subfield of international relations and foreign policy, with a focus on external energy relations. It is closely tied to national security and economic development.
National security is the most general concept, with foreign policy as the tool to implement it and energy diplomacy as the most specific level. Energy security is a key component of national security, and energy diplomacy aims to secure energy supplies, primarily fossil fuels, but also increasingly sustainable energy sources. This is essential for economic development and to maintain a country's independence, security, and territorial, political, and economic integrity.
The global energy system is transitioning from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy sources. This transition can be facilitated through energy diplomacy, which can help manage the geopolitical consequences. For example, countries can develop special bilateral relations with strategic energy partners, combining energy, investment, and technology collaboration. This is particularly important for hydrocarbon-exporting countries, which can foster long-term economic diversification and monetization of resources through energy diplomacy.
Energy diplomacy can also help countries ensure their energy supply security through resource-route diversification. For instance, Türkiye's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has successfully conducted energy diplomacy in the Caucasus region, contributing to the supply security of the country and the wider region by transporting Azeri gas to European markets.
Additionally, energy diplomacy can promote global energy efficiency, renewable technologies, and well-functioning markets. The EU's energy diplomacy, for instance, aims to accelerate a just and inclusive global energy transition, while also addressing the geopolitical risks and climate impact of fossil fuels.
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Frequently asked questions
Energy diplomacy is a form of diplomacy and a subfield of international relations. It deals with external energy relations and is closely related to foreign policy and national security, with a focus on energy security.
Energy diplomacy emerged as a term during the second oil crisis, describing OPEC's actions and the quest for the United States to secure energy independence. The early era of energy diplomacy in the 20th century was marked by corporate players in the fossil fuel industry, such as Royal Dutch Shell and Standard Oil.
Energy diplomacy aims to accelerate the global energy transition, promoting energy efficiency, renewable technologies, and well-functioning global markets. It seeks to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the geopolitical consequences of low-carbon energy transitions.
Energy diplomacy influences foreign policy by shaping a country's relations with international partners. It is a tool to manage geopolitical risks and ensure energy security. Energy diplomacy can also be used as an instrument of a country's foreign agenda, influencing governments and policymakers.
