Energy is America’s real weapon in a multipolar world

Washington's reported strategy positions the control or disruption of global energy supplies as a core instrument for maintaining the dollar's global standing and demand for US government debt. This approach contrasts with a focus on frontier technologies like AI, where supply is potentially replicable and competitive alternatives can emerge. Oil and gas are finite, geographically concentrated, and dependent on infrastructure, making control over their movement contestable.

The financial implications of energy disruption are described as significant. For instance, a hypothetical conflict in the Gulf in late February 2026 reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz, causing Brent crude prices to nearly double, peaking at $118 per barrel by March. Such energy shocks are said to reshape capital flows: rising inflationary pressure and strain on risk assets often lead investors to seek safety in US dollar assets, particularly long-dated Treasuries.

This dynamic reportedly serves broader US financial interests by weakening alternatives to the dollar, depressing assets like gold, and directing capital toward US government debt. While US consumers faced higher fuel prices in 2026, the United States maintains a structural advantage relative to energy-importing economies due to its own production capabilities. This places a heavier burden on economies in regions like Europe and Asia, which are more dependent on energy imports.