MenuThe United States and Ukraine signed a long-awaited deal on April 30 to give the U.S. priority access to Ukrainian critical minerals and other natural resources. After months of acrimonious disputes and negotiations over a ceasefire/peace between Russia and Ukraine, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is now touting the agreement as a signal to Russia that “the
Category Archives: Articles & Blogs
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Crackdown In Turkey Throttles European Energy
Befitting its status as a country bridging Europe and Asia, the Turkish government’s massive crackdown on the country’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) opposition party and arrest of Ekrem Imamoğlu, mayor of Istanbul and leader of the CHP, has immediate implications for the entire region. Recent events are raising alarm bells in Europe that Turkish chaos
Why The EU And U.S. May Not Rescue Russia’s Energy Industry
President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to attain peace between Russia and Ukraine have already prompted questions about the future of Russian energy exports, the country’s main cash cow, and whether the door will open to joint projects between Russia and the E.U or the U.S. Whatever progress is made in any negotiations, will be difficult if
White House Cuts Red Tape For U.S. Critical Minerals
The Trump Administration used the Defense Production Act as the basis for an executive order issued March 20, 2025 to sharply increase U.S. critical minerals production. Government agencies were given their marching orders, including directives to: Screen applications for critical mineral mining and refining projects, looking for those that can be given immediate approval and
The Venezuela Oil Tariff Tests Trump Policies
Today, disparate Trump policies —more muscular American diplomacy, less soft power, higher tariffs, and the quest for cheap energy — are being tested together in Venezuela. The pro-Russia, pro-China, and pro-Iran far left Maduro regime in Caracas has long been a thorn in the side of the United States in the often-neglected Latin American theater.
Make America Great At Energy Storage
The Trump Administration is skeptical about green energy, to put it mildly. The remarks of U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright at CERAWeek 2025, the most influential energy conference in the U.S., summarized one of the key reasons, “Beyond the obvious scale and cost problems, there is simply no physical way that wind, solar, and batteries could
Europe’s Search For Gas Leads To Romania
Over three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, some European countries were still reliant on Russian gas. While the war in Ukraine compelled most of the European Union to diversify its energy imports and avoid buying gas from Moscow, certain countries, whether motivated by domestic politics or geography, such as Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary, continued buying. In January 2025, Ukraine
The U.S. Needs To Drill Smarter, Not Harder
The Trump Administration is escalating military operations against the Houthi pirates and terrorists and focusing on the future of the Iranian nuclear program. If hostilities in the Middle East are affecting oil production and transportation, especially in the Persian Gulf, and specifically in the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices may be affected. Simultaneously, the White
Putin’s Trolling: A Strategic Minerals Offer For Trump
Just as President Volodymyr Zelensky was preparing to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Friday, February 28th, to sign an unprecedented US-Ukraine agreement on strategic minerals, Vladimir Putin came up with a proposal of his own, involving joint development with the U.S. of rare earth metals, aluminum, and hydropower in Russia. It’s trolling of the 99th
How LNG Exports Will Define U.S. Energy Policy Under Trump 2.0
President Donald Trump’s guarantee to supply liquefied natural gas to Europe furthers his broader push for U.S. “energy dominance,” marking a stark reversal of the Biden Administration’s pause on the approval of new LNG export infrastructure permits. While Trump’s approach to energy policy correctly identifies LNG as a growth driver and an essential geopolitical lever, expanding LNG exports