MenuFaltering energy security and unstable rare earths supply chains have prompted Europe to think creatively about securing its energy and strategic mineral supply. Brussels has decided to aim for the stars, literally, by putting its sights on the moon. In a European Commission report published on September 9th, the EU noted that to meet its energy
Category Archives: Geopolitics
Rosatom Has Scored Major Nuclear Projects — Can It Deliver?
While Russia’s economic performance has been lackluster as its war economy struggles to underpin growth, a clear bright spot remains: nuclear energy. Following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, where the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline progress dominated headlines, Rosatom signed a memorandum with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) on personnel collaboration, building on recent wins in Central Asia, Europe, and North
Russia’s Dramatic Pivot: Gas Pipeline Signals Subordination To China
The spectacular displays at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin were carefully crafted to showcase the evolution of Xi Jinping’s Beijing-centric political bloc which aspires to rival Washington. The U.S. administration is embracing an “America First” agenda and using tariffs as a foreign policy battering ram. Meanwhile, President Trump may be on to
Turkey Using Energy To Boost Erdogan’s Geopolitical Clout
Turkey sits at the intersection of Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East—a prime geopolitical piece of real estate in the Eastern hemisphere. As Europe and the U.S. seek to reduce reliance on Russian energy corridors as well as Iranian oil and gas, Ankara is moving quickly to position itself as the key transit
Russia Challenges U.S. Interests in the South Caucasus
The U.S.-Russian confrontation is escalating. President Trump has threatened 100 percent secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and other exports, promising to impose them within 50 days unless Russia and Ukraine reach a ceasefire. The Senate, led by Sens. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), is proposing a 500 percent tariff package targeting nations that purchase Russian
The U.S.-EU Energy Deal: A Strategic Win For Europe?
This past Sunday, President Donald J. Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced preliminary terms of a trade deal between the U.S. and the EU from the Trump Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. A key component of the agreement is a pledge from the European Union to purchase $750 billion worth of energy
Leaders May Step Up Pressure On Russian Gas Sales To End Ukrainian War
Telling the BBC that he is “disappointed but not done with Vladimir Putin,” President Donald Trump has threatened 100% tariffs against Russia, including secondary tariffs against countries that help dodge sanctions on the Kremlin’s energy exports., The U.S. Senate is considering a bill to give the president the ability to impose additional “sledgehammer” measures with up
Time To Reinvent U.S. Critical Minerals Strategy
For the Trump administration, critical minerals are a global policy priority. President Donald J. Trump is trying to get China to relax bans on rare earth minerals desperately needed for American industries, including defense and tech. From Greenland to Ukraine, the U.S. is signaling interest and engagement, be it intent to acquire or a comprehensive energy and
Trump’s Tariff Pressure Can Stimulate U.S.–Asia Energy Cooperation
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Energy Dominance Council plans to host a liquified natural gas summit in Alaska on June 2, where it hopes to announce that Japan and South Korea have committed to the long-pursued Alaska LNG project to ease American gas shipments to Asia. Since his return to the Oval Office, Trump has positioned hydrocarbons as
Gloomy Days For Global Solar Power
The tariffs announced by the Trump Administration at the beginning of April have cast a shadow across international energy supply chains. The new policies were delayed for ninety days less than a week later, and the much-feared shortages and price hikes haven’t yet materialized. Nevertheless, the mood in the industry remains pessimistic. In May, the U.S.