The NATO Association of Canada’s Energy Security Program is directed by Dr. Robert M. Cutler, who is also Senior Research Fellow. The Program addresses energy-related issues of concern to NATO members and partners, ranging across a spectrum from the security of energy supply (and of energy demand for energy producers) to the physical security of energy infrastructure. It seeks also to anticipate and plan for geopolitical, geo-economic, and military developments worldwide, that may have implications for NATO countries’ energy security. To this end, it organizes webinars and publishes this Energy Security blog, as well as series of Research Briefs, Policy Papers, and Research Studies (also inventoried below). Individuals interested in contributing to any of these activities are invited to contact Dr. Cutler at the email address rmc@alum.mit.edu with the Subject: heading “NAOC Energy Security Program.”

Dr Robert M Cutler Energy Security

U.S. Passes New Geopolitical Energy Legislation

In the rush of activity at the end of last year, in preparation for adjournment, the U.S. Congress approved and President Donald Trump signed legislation including provisions for American foreign economic policy, and energy policy in particular. The one that has got perhaps more attention was the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of Read More…

Dr Robert M Cutler Energy Security

European Investment Bank Shifts Policy

In mid-November, the European Investment Bank (EIB) decided on five new rules to guide its energy lending policy: priority to energy efficiency, enabling energy “decarbonization”, increased finance for decentralized energy production, increased finance for “intermittent” energy sources such as wind and solar, and supporting “energy transformation” outside the EU. The Bank will cease lending in Read More…

Energy Security

The new European Commission and the Future Role of Gas in Europe

The natural gas portfolio of the new European Commission (EC) seeks to ensure security of supply throughout Europe. Simultaneously, it has to determine a role for natural gas towards the envisioned carbon-neutral EU economy of 2050. The EU was first compelled to advance the supply-security aspect of natural gas after the 2006 and 2009 interruptions Read More…

Energy Security

European Natural Gas Geopolitics on a Collision Course?

Following the Dutch discovery of the Groningen field, and British, Norwegian and Danish discoveries in the North Sea during the 1960s and 1970s, natural gas appeared to offer Europe an opportunity to decrease its dependence on Middle Eastern oil. However, demand for gas quickly outpaced supply, leading West European buyers increasingly to rely on Soviet Read More…

Dr Robert M Cutler Energy Security

Turkmenistan Relations with European Union Reach a New Level

The energy security of NATO members in Europe will receive a further boost as the European Union has opened a new Delegation in Turkmenistan. This Delegation supersedes the lower-level liaison office through which relations had been conducted up until now. The move follows the European Council’s adoption of a new “EU Strategy for Central Asia,” Read More…

Dr Robert M Cutler Energy Security

Uzbekistan Moves Fast To Reform Energy Sector

Energy sector reform is moving quickly in Uzbekistan, and foreign direct investment (FDI) is skyrocketing. The country did not have an energy ministry until February of this year. Instead, the energy sector was in the portfolio of one of eight deputy prime ministers, who also covered metallurgy and geology. This excessive concentration of responsibilities was Read More…

Dr Robert M Cutler Energy Security

Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline Gains Further Momentum

Following President Donald Trump’s Nowruz (New Year’s) message to Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stating that the United States Government looks forward to seeing the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline (TCGP) built, the atmosphere has been changing in Washington in favor of the project. Twenty years ago, when the project was first being discussed, the American negotiators made Read More…

Dr Robert M Cutler Energy Security

Momentum Accelerates for the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline

Momentum accelerated over the past month pointing towards the implementation, sooner rather than later, of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline (TCGP). Already last summer the signature of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea established that neither Russia nor Iran would be able to block the construction of the pipeline. This even confirms Read More…

Energy Security Robert M. Cutler and Harald Malmgren

Implementing a Security Strategy for Georgia

This article focuses on defence and security issues on the one hand and, on the other hand, on the related questions of the economy, trade and energy. These are two of the four issue-areas that the U.S.–Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, established in 2009, identified as priority areas of the bilateral cooperation. The others are democracy and cultural exchanges.