| 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 |
