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Europe-Russia Energy Relations: Security in Diversity?. Dr. Andrew Monaghan, Research Consultant, NATO Defence College. Introduction. Russia in European thinking Russia as “the problem” Diversity as the answer? Conclusions European thinking reactive
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Europe-Russia Energy Relations: Security in Diversity? Dr. Andrew Monaghan, Research Consultant, NATO Defence College
Introduction • Russia in European thinking • Russia as “the problem” • Diversity as the answer? • Conclusions • European thinking reactive • Russia often taken out of context strategically
Russia in European Thinking • Russia is the gravitational focus for European thinking • Evolution in thought • Politically unreliable • Oct 2005, Jan 2006, Dec/Jan 2007 • Sustainability • Gas deficit • Liberal/monopoly • Bureaucratic improvement/political deterioration • Energy security dilemma
Russia as “the problem” • Energy “Superpower”? • Political idea without a strategy • Unclear “national interests” • Gazprom strategy ≠ Russian strategy • Incoherence & Competition • Gazprom vs. Rosneft; Gazprom vs. State • Shady “re-nationalisation” • Gas deficit • Domestic consumption/foreign contracts
Responses • Reactive • Veto, ECT ratification, diversification NATO • Veto, ECT • Cohesion of members • Negotiating against Russia’s “natural advantages”
Energy Insecurity Responses • Diversify? • Already diverse – energy type, source, route • Complicates policy making & consensus • To where? • Iran? Nigeria • Energy Security Dilemma • Sources & Markets
Energy Insecurity Responses • NATO • January 2006 (USA/Ukraine) • September 2006 Seminar • Riga Summit • Strategic Concept • Military security: NATO’s energy supply • Shortage of other options in answer to perceived threat • EU & IEA not responsive & supportive enough • Bring in US diplomatic weight
NATO & energy security • US & Turkey involvement • Political links to the wider world: PfP & ICI, NRC • IPAP: Azerbaijan • Military dimension • Infrastructure security • Naval protection • Civil Defence & emergency management
NATO & Energy Insecurity • The “whole chain” BUT: • Does not address the key issues: investment • Military alliance involvement creates concerns abroad • Political dimension of energy security: confidence • A global thematic rather than regional diplomatic role
Conclusions • Energy security is a primarily POLITICAL issue – is enough resource base • Tension between existing and reliable resources • Responses so far REACTIVE & undermining energy security • Key responses are domestic – efficiency & investment • NATO has a global energy security role, albeit focused & explicitly addressed • Consumer, Producer & Transit often the same; NATO understands “the chain”