In today’s international relations characterized by relatively increased globalization, technological innovation and environmental degradation, energy diplomacy has become an integral aspect for countries. As countries strive to lock their energy supplies while finding their way towards sustainable energy sources, relations between diplomacy and energy practices become complex.

Energy diplomacy is pivotal in securing resources, driving renewable energy initiatives, and addressing climate change challenges.

Energy diplomacy therefore relates to the manner in which diplomacy is employed to access energy resources, to interact and contract for energy needs and to exercise influence on energy demand in the global markets. It covers all areas of work, from the signing of contractual agreements in oil and gas to the advocacy for use of clean technologies and management of the effects of energy on the environment. In other words, energy diplomacy is a process of managing a country’s energy requirements and securing the international energy environment to work in parallel with competition.

Traditionally, energy diplomacy was closely associated with the search for sources of supply of conventional hydrocarbons, oil and natural gas primarily. The world powers such as America, Russia and China have not only using energy resources as bargaining chips but supply the needed energy in the global influence through supply Chain and Energy Pricing. Nevertheless, the twenty-first century has been unprecedented in this case. The increasing relevance of the renewables together with the escalating issue of climate change has shifted the temperament of energy diplomacy to cooperation not confrontation.

Today energy is a crucial component of the economic system and crucial for industries transport as well as households. Thus, the problems of energy resources management and provision are the critical essentials of state security and economy. As we know, oil importers cannot afford to turn a blind eye on international politics because supplies must be secured safely and cheaply. For the energy exporting countries it’s a way of using a resource for making the resources and getting influence around the world.

Thus, the energy diplomacy is especially vivid in the countries of some regions, such as the Middle East due to availability of the hydrocarbons resources. Leverage has been domineering in the global market through quotas and affiliations including the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) compromised of nations in this region. In the same way, Russia is likely to utilize its significant endowment in natural gas to regulate the international relations, for instance, probably providing Europe with the resource while sometimes using energy to punish a competitor.

The geopolitical significance of rare earth materials and clean energy technologies reshapes modern energy diplomacy.

Thus, while the post-1992 global energy mix returns to the sources long dominant a millennium ago, namely water, wood, coal, oil, and natural gas, the strategic importance of energy diplomacy is extending to renewables. Lithium, cobalt and rare earth, all materials crucial in batteries and clean energy technologies, containing countries are assuming geopolitical significance. New forms of energy diplomacy involve the strive for the procurement of such resources, for investment in clean energy infrastructure, and for the exchange of technology.

There are several considerations, which prop up the growing importance of operating energy diplomacy. The first reason is the increasing need in the power services in the world. This is because as developing economies expand their consumption of energy increases which significantly increases competition for energy sources. This has resulted to the creation of new zones that involve structures like the BRI of China which involves actualization of key energy infrastructure.

Second, the shift in generation of energy from traditional resources to renewable sources or clean energy has in fact brought about new era in energy diplomacy. On the one hand, states are applying pressure to manufacture and export state-of-art renewable energy products like photovoltaic panels and windmills as they strive to outcompete one another on the global stage, and on the other hand, they are negotiating common ground to lower their carbon output. Critics of multilateral diplomacy implied by the Paris Agreement and subsequent summits are taking place to address global environmental concerns.

Third, energy security is still one of the major factors that define the development of the industry and its future. Governments strive to reduce their reliance on imports hence; invest in renewable sources of power, nuclear energy and domestic production. Hence, energy diplomacy is not only about acquiring import portfolios, but also buffering the proneness of energy systems against cyber intrusions, extreme weather incidents and geopolitical volatility.

Energy diplomacy fosters both rivalry and cooperation, exemplified by projects like ISA and tensions like the South China Sea conflicts.

Energy diplomacy is national security, which exists in a state of tension and interdependence between confrontation and coordination. On one hand, rivalry for the access to the resources will lead to the escalation of international tension. For instance, conflicts in the South China Sea involve in part, the unexplored raw materials include the Oil and natural gas fields. Likewise, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project reflects tensions of Russian-European and US-European dependence and struggle over energy dominance alike.

On the other hand, energy diplomacy can be served to provide cooperation. Projects like International Solar Alliance (ISA) and GEIDCO- Global Energy Interconnection Development & Cooperation Organization give the energy a platform to bring all countries together with shared vision and objectives. Energy supply and demand partnerships, cooperation in operates and investment, and interconnectivity projects provide platforms for discussion and cooperation.

As has been seen energy diplomacy has numerous strengths, but it also has some weaknesses. The first and significant challenge is that not all countries have the necessary funding and levels of innovation to work on complex projects. Due to weak research and development as well as high costs, developing countries cannot afford to improve their energy sector through development of superior technologies. The closing of this gap does thus need a global sustained effort in terms of financial contributions and share of technology.

Another problem is the possibility of the conflict of interests: domestic and international. There are often pressures to ensure a country has sufficient energy supply and or to manage the economy leading to a conflict with environmental policies and goals on climate change. Clean energy also creates some moral issues: using resources and energy efficiently and fairly, the management of labor, and possible negative effects of extracting metals, the so-called critical minerals.

Global collaboration in energy innovation and resource management is essential for sustainable development and energy security.

Energy cooperation is one of the most efficient mechanisms to mirror the contemporary global reality. As a shift focused on the global need as well as the interests of nation states, it has the capability to actively support development, prevent wars, as well as manage the major environmental issues. With this changing guise of energy, diplomacy as a power tool will only gain more relevance in the future. No matter whether it is the geopolitics of oil or the opportunities of renewable energy power both will still be instrumental in the diplomacy of world’s fight for prosperity in a sustainable world.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.