World War E

Two wars are raging in the world right now: Ukraine and Iran. Both are, at their core, energy wars. Modern economies depend on cheap and reliable supplies of oil and gas. But what happens when war disrupts access to energy in not just one, but two of the world’s most critical regions at the same time? The Ukraine war has already reshaped Europe’s energy landscape. Now escalating conflict involving Iran is placing the wider Middle East — the heart of the global energy system — under growing strain.

We may not be witnessing World War III.

But we may be entering something else:
World War E — the global energy war.
Show Notes:
Topics Covered

• The strategic intersection between the Iran war and the Ukraine war


• Whether energy pressure could weaken European support for Ukraine


• The damage to Russian oil and gas infrastructure and whether Moscow could restore exports quickly


• The implications of Iranian attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure


• Reports of possible Russia–Iran military cooperation


• Whether renewable energy can realistically close emerging energy gaps


• The future of European energy security

Explainer: What Does “Force Majeure” Mean in LNG Markets?

A force majeure declaration is a legal term used in international contracts when extraordinary events prevent a company from fulfilling its obligations.

In the context of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, it typically means that the supplier is temporarily unable to deliver contracted shipments due to circumstances beyond its control, such as:

• war or military conflict


• major infrastructure damage


• natural disasters


• government intervention or sanctions

When a supplier declares force majeure, it signals to buyers that contractual delivery obligations may be suspended or reduced without financial penalties.

For global energy markets, such declarations are extremely significant.
Qatar is one of the world’s largest LNG exporters, supplying major markets across Europe and Asia. Any sustained disruption to Qatari LNG exports tightens global gas supply and can drive prices sharply higher.

In a world still heavily dependent on hydrocarbons, disruptions in the Gulf can rapidly translate into economic pressure far beyond the Middle East.

Guest

Anders Puck Nielsen is a naval officer and military analyst at the Royal Danish Defence College.

His work focuses on maritime strategy, naval warfare, and contemporary security challenges, including the war in Ukraine and Russia’s military strategy.

He also runs a widely followed YouTube channel explaining military and geopolitical developments.

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