Redefining energy security, a 10-point guide

It is too soon to know when or how the war with Iran will end or what its geopolitical or economic consequences will be. But one thing is already certain: What is meant by energy security must be rethought.

Roughly 20 percent of the world’s traded oil and gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The recent crisis demonstrated how quickly that flow can be disrupted, placing immediate pressure on energy-importing countries and on the global economy.

The current crisis also highlights that oil and gas facilities cannot be assumed to be secure. On the contrary, they are highly vulnerable to war and terrorism.

Energy security is often defined as ensuring reliable and affordable access to supplies. That definition is no longer sufficient. What recent events have exposed is that energy security must now encompass the maintenance and resilience of the systems that produce, refine, transport and deliver energy.

In a world of contested transit routes, intricate infrastructure and sophisticated forms of disruption, energy security is no longer just about supply. It is about whether the system itself can function under stress.

Energy security is no longer just about supply. It is about whether the system itself can function under stress

Richard Haass and Carolyn Kissane

Recent conflicts make this clear. The war with Iran, together with Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, has shown that energy infrastructure is no longer collateral damage — it is a primary target. Refineries, pipelines, export terminals and electricity grids are now central to wartime strategy designed to weaken the capabilities and will of adversaries.

The change reflects new technology and “military math.” Relatively inexpensive drones, often costing less than $50,000, can disrupt assets worth billions. Cyber operations can destabilize grids without physical strikes. The asymmetry is striking: low-cost attacks can generate system-wide consequences with far-reaching economic and societal implications.

Artificial intelligence is accelerating both risk and resilience. The rapid expansion of data centers and AI-driven computing is driving a surge in electricity demand. Yet AI is also becoming central to energy security, enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and faster responses to threats. As energy systems become more digital and more electrified, the intersection of AI and infrastructure will shape the next phase of security.

What this moment demands is a redefinition of energy security, one that takes the form of a comprehensive framework, built around 10 priorities.

First, diversify supply across regions. This calls for expanding access to supply from the Americas, Africa and other emerging producers.

Second, diversify routes as well as sources. Energy that cannot move is functionally unavailable. This will require expanded investment in alternative corridors, including pipelines that bypass maritime chokepoints.

Third, harden critical energy infrastructure. Refineries, pipelines, liquefied natural gas terminals and electricity grids must be designed and reinforced to withstand disruption.

Fourth, build active energy defense systems. Modern conflict has made energy infrastructure a primary target. Protecting it requires real-time defense — layered air and missile systems, counterdrone capabilities and advanced cyberdefense to detect, deter and respond to attacks.

Fifth, design for resilience, not just efficiency. Systems optimized for cost and speed are inherently fragile. Energy systems require spare capacity, redundancy across critical components and the ability to absorb and recover from disruption.

Countries most exposed to disruption face rising input costs, pressure across industries and slower growth

Richard Haass and Carolyn Kissane

Sixth, expand and safeguard strategic reserves. Storage should not be viewed primarily as a tool to manage prices but as insurance against disruption.

Seventh, ensure a diversified energy mix. Renewables (including solar, wind, hydro, tidal and geothermal), nuclear power and hydrocarbons each play a role in reducing exposure to shocks. In periods of acute disruption, countries may also need to turn to readily available fuels, including coal, to maintain power generation, industrial output and economic stability. While this will complicate climate objectives, excluding such options altogether is inconsistent with the realities of energy security. The good news is that the climate impact can be offset through the accelerated development of alternatives that energy security also requires.

Eighth, depoliticize energy strategy. Energy systems must be guided by the objectives of reliability, affordability and security, not by short-term politics. Frequent shifts in policy direction — seen in the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea, among others — undermine investment, delay infrastructure development and can introduce a de facto political risk premium into energy systems.

Ninth, wherever possible, manage demand as a form of risk reduction. Efficiency lowers exposure and strengthens resilience.

Lastly, recognize that no country is insulated. In the US, energy abundance is often equated with energy security. But oil is priced globally and disruptions abroad translate directly into higher costs at home, affecting fuel prices, supply chains and inflation. Energy independence does not mean immunity from energy crises.

The economic consequences of failing to adapt are significant. Countries most exposed to disruption face rising input costs, pressure across industries and slower growth. Energy insecurity is economic insecurity and maximizing both has become a defining feature of military strategy.

There is a clear parallel with global supply chains. In the aftermath of COVID-19, firms shifted from a “just in time” model to a “just in case” approach that sought to strengthen resilience. Energy systems must now undergo a similar transition. It is well worth paying an added premium; delay will only drive the cost of energy insecurity higher.

• Richard Haass, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, is a senior counselor at Centerview Partners, Distinguished University Scholar at New York University, and the author of the weekly Substack newsletter “Home & Away.”
• Carolyn Kissane is Associate Dean and Clinical Professor at the New York University School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs and Founding Director of NYU’s Energy, Climate and Sustainability Lab.

Copyright: Project Syndicate