Strategy |
Method |
Example |
Key Players |
Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Dominating Production & Exports |
Control global supply to manipulate prices and availability. |
– OPEC+ cuts production to raise oil prices. – Russia cuts gas to Europe. |
Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.S. (shale oil) |
EU, China, U.S. (if oil-dependent) |
2. Blocking Energy Chokepoints |
Militarize or blockade critical shipping routes. |
– Iran threatens Strait of Hormuz. – U.S. could blockade Malacca (China’s oil lifeline). |
U.S. Navy, Iran, China |
China, EU, Japan |
3. Energy Sanctions & Financial Bans |
Cut off energy payments (SWIFT) or restrict technology. |
– U.S. sanctions on Russian oil. – China bans rare earth exports. |
U.S., China, EU |
Russia, Iran, North Korea |
4. Creating Dependencies |
Make rivals reliant on your energy, then exploit it. |
– Europe depended on Russian gas (pre-2022). – China controls African mines. |
Russia, China, Gulf States |
EU, India, Japan |
5. Green Energy & Tech Dominance |
Control renewables, nuclear, or critical minerals (lithium, cobalt). |
– China dominates solar panels/batteries. – U.S. secures Latin American lithium. |
China, U.S., EU |
Rivals in tech race (e.g., U.S. vs. China) |
6. Cyber & Infrastructure Sabotage |
Hack pipelines, grids, or refineries to disrupt supply. |
– Russia attacks Ukraine’s power grid. – U.S. Stuxnet virus vs. Iran. |
Russia, U.S., Iran |
Adversaries’ energy infrastructure |
