For oil producers, energy security rises up the political agenda

Energy security, traditionally a high priority for consumer countries that depend on imported oil and natural gas, is now topping the military and foreign policy agenda for producing countries, as they seek to reinforce their credibility in the eyes of volatile global oil markets.

Flush with petrodollars from rising oil prices since 2003, producer governments have been emboldened to increase their cut of the economic rent from oil and, in some cases, to challenge the geopolitical status quo in ways that would have been unthinkable during earlier, leaner times.


But hand in hand with this new confidence has come a realization that high oil prices have also raised the stakes for those intent on disrupting energy supplies.

This is particularly true in Saudi Arabia and the five neighboring Gulf states that together form the Gulf Cooperation Council. “GCC states’ programs of security cooperation with the U.S. suggest an increased concern about the security of energy and other facilities,” said Neil Partrick, a Gulf analyst with the International Crisis Group.

IHT