In today's world, it is a fact that energy plays an important role in protecting the national interests of the big countries and in implementing a number of strategic goals. For example, it can be taken into account the recent active geopolitical interventions by the Russian Federation and the intensive use of energy diplomacy to satisfy the political ambition of the Kremlin. First of all, it should be mentioned about the recent growth trends of energy interdependence between Russia and European partners of NATO. It is known that the European members of North Atlantic alliance consume more than 450 billion M3 of natural gas per year. At the same time, more than 60% of natural gas export of Russia in carried out on the European market. According to the data of 2018, “Gazprom” has exported 200.8 billion M3 on the European market. This chapter explores energy security as a part of NATO's mission.
TopIntroduction
The energy factor has always played a crucial role in international relations. It is through energy that small states can in some cases influence to the policies of big countries. The clear confirmation of this was world energy crisis in 1973-1974. The global energy crisis was caused as a result of the policies pursued by the Middle East countries when OPEC member states from this region protested against the US support for Israel in the Yom Kippur War (Pivovarov, 2015). It is also noteworthy that it was energy that played a crucial role in ending the Cold War, when, as part of effective measures having been taken by the US President Reagan administration, in particular during the negotiations with Saudi Arabia, when as a result of deal between two countries, Saudi Arabia increased the oil production on its territory, which from its turn promoted the decreasing the international oil prices. As a result, income from oil export of USSR reduced for about 73%, which determined the further disintegration of the world communist system and USSR and the ending of the Cold War (Chitadze, 2008).
In today’s world, it is a fact that energy plays an important role in protecting the national interests of the big countries and in implementing a number of strategic goals. For example, it can be taken into account the recent active geopolitical interventions by the Russian Federation and the intensive use of energy diplomacy to satisfy the political ambition of Kremlin. First of all, it should be mentioned about the recent growth trends of energy interdependence between Russia and European partners of NATO. It is known that the European memebrs of North Atlantic alliance consume more than 450 billion M3 of natural gas per year. At the same time, more than 60% of natural gas export of Russia in carried out on the European market. According to the data of 2018, “Gazprom” has exported 200.8 billion M3 on the European market (Gazprom Export, 2018).
Russia is trying to maximize its energy resources to pursue its own geopolitical interests. In 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, one of the determining factors was the existence of significant shale gas deposits near the Crimean peninsula. In this case it should be underlined about signed before $10 billion contract between Ukraine and the British-Dutch company Royal Dutch Shell for the extraction of natural gas on Ukrainian territory (primarily on the Black Sea shelf) (Balmforth, Zhdannikov, 2018).
Based on the above-mentioned factors, the urgency of the research is determined by the fact that dur to the existance the confrontation between the West and Russia, the issue of strengthening the transatlantic links between American and European partners of NATO, first of all in the field of energy on the example of transportation of natural gas from the US to Europe and thus the issue of reducing Europe's dependence on Russian oil and gas has gained the special importance. This factor will play an important role in weakening Russia's geopolitical influence and providing the security of Euro-Atlantic area, accordingly, strengthening the international security in general. Thus, the European partners of NATO needs to find alternative sources of energy imports today in order to escape Russia's energy influence. One such alternative source is the United States, where some shale gas fields have been intensively developed in recent years and oil production also has been increasing. Although the transportation of these natural resources to Europe due to geographical distance is a problem. Due to the above factors, the topic is quite relevant.
Research Questions:
- 1.
How ready are the European partners of NATO to pursue an independent energy policy amid a reduction the dependence from Russia's in the field of energy?
- 2.
Is there a willingness in US business circles to export shale gas to Europe?
- 3.
What is the Geopolitical factor of the US supply of energy resources to European countries?
With regards to the research Methods, the following methods have been used: