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Abstract Energy dependency has long been a weakness in Europe’s foreign strategy. As the most developed industrial center in the world, Europe’s energy demand has always been considerable. Constrained by its relatively weak indigenous oil and gas resources, Europe has engaged in over a century of energy cooperation with major global energy suppliers such as the Middle East and the Soviet Union/Russia, fostering an asymmetric reliance that has witnessed numerous tumultuous episodes. With the United States achieving energy independence and seeking to expand its natural gas market, it has actively fueled geopolitical tensions. The Russia-Ukraine conflict accelerated the decoupling of Russian and European energy ties, pushing them further apart, as Europe turns anew to the United States and the Middle East for oil and gas. However, Europe must ponder several questions: Will detaching from Russia truly eliminate dependence? Does importing the United States liquefied natural gas (LNG) create a new form of reliance? Will the critical metals needed for the development of renewable energy become a new external dependency for Europe? And should Europe seek to break free from these dependencies? This article, through a comprehensive analysis of Europe’s energy issues, delves into these questions, enhancing our understanding of Europe’s current energy quandary. Given China’s status as a major energy importer with a transformation process sharing similarities with Europe’s, this study also offers insights for China’s energy transition.
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Published: 13 January 2025
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2024, Vol. 31 
