Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 05/2009

Oil, Gas and International Insecurity: Tackling a Self-fuelling Fire

Daniel Litvin

March 2009

Chatham House

Abstract

In the United States, European Union and Asia, fears about dependence on oil and gas imports from unstable regions have become a major theme of political debate. This paper provides a high-level and historical perspective on this complex issue. Dependence on oil and gas imports raises real economic- and political-security issues for many countries. Neither the global economic crisis nor climate change policies - both of which look set to restrain oil and gas demand - will solve the problem entirely. In fact, over the next few decades it is likely to become worse.