Good Energy Policy and Good National Security Go Hand in Hand

Congressman Lamborn: This is an ideal time for the United States to shape an agenda of its own in the Middle East.

I believe that we need to more fully explore the interconnection between our energy policy and our national security policy.

For decades, we had to embrace the foreign policy agendas of Persian Gulf sheikhs because we needed their oil and their support in our confrontation with the Soviet Union. The drop in oil prices and sharp rise in domestic production — along with the end of the Cold War — freed us from that bondage, but we chose to remain trapped. This is an ideal time for the United States to shape an agenda of its own in the Middle East, one that embodies our own security needs rather than those of our partners.

This is an ideal time for the United States to shape an agenda of its own in the Middle East, one that embodies our own security needs rather than those of our partners.

To maximize opportunities and minimize disadvantages, the American people need to hear that the United States is involved in the Middle East for reasons related to security rather than oil. Furthermore, Americans need to hear how committed the United States is to the Middle East. Finally, U.S. officials must assure the international community that involvement in other regions, such as East Asia and Europe, does not come at the expense of policy interest toward the Middle East.

We must always view Israel as a strategic partner for development of oil and natural gas, as well as improving energy security. We will always be most aligned with Israel with respect to overarching interests in the region.

POTENTIAL FOR GOOD

Interestingly, despite all of the instability in the Middle East, energy production has not been significantly interrupted — in fact, it has increased.

In the Middle East, cheap oil has already forced Saudi Arabia and others to speed up reforms.

We should encourage needed reforms in the large oil producing states (particularly Sunni states) with whom we have long-historical alliances, both in order to ensure the stability of these states, and also as a counterbalance to Iran’s growing influence, and Iranian/Russian potential energy dominance in the region.

POTENTIAL FOR BAD

However, there is a recipe for domestic instability and aggression in places like Iran and Russia.

In the 10 OPEC countries where oil comprises more than 85% of export revenue, the consequences are especially dire in terms of regime stability.

The reduced revenues for Egypt’s Gulf donors — primarily Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE — will mean reduced aid to Egypt, whose economy badly needs it.

Low prices are generally a catalyst for the rise in global conflict. Cheap oil translates into huge revenue losses and increased poverty, especially for Russia, Brazil, and Mexico — but also for Canada.

Oil-related violence underlies almost all of today’s major hotspots, even those conflicts that appear solely ethnic or religious in nature:

• Syrian Civil War and its spillover into Iraq
• Growing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia
• Continued Civil unrest in Yemen
• Afghanistan, South Sudan, Nigeria, Algeria, Somalia, and Libya
• Russia and the Ukraine
• Venezuela

As we move forward to develop an energy strategy, let us consider how our policies can impact our relationships with other nations, as well as our obligations to national security.

Congressman Doug Lamborn represents Colorado’s fifth district. This article is modified from his remarks 9/15/2016.