Why Fight for Oil When the Sun Shines Free?

As the world anxiously awaits whether the US will attack Iran — whose crude oil China buys in vast quantities as its largest customer — analysts warn of global repercussions that could spill over into broader geopolitical tensions. Historically, many major conflicts have centred on the control of oil and other fossil fuels. Because large fossil-fuel reserves are concentrated in limited geographic regions, competition to control them has repeatedly fuelled war.

Consider this: among the factors that destabilised inter-war Europe was the occupation of the industrial and mineral-rich Ruhr region by French and Belgian troops after Germany halted coal deliveries required under World War I reparations agreements. This occupation severely damaged the German economy and contributed to the political and economic instability that later enabled the rise of extremism.

Several decades later, fossil fuels once again became a focal point of global conflict. In 1990, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait brought oil geopolitics sharply to the forefront. Control of Kuwaiti oil reserves would have dramatically shifted the balance of power in West Asia, giving Iraq disproportionate influence over regional energy supplies. Such a shift was deemed unacceptable to the United States and its allies, prompting military intervention.

More recently, Russia’s conflict withUkraine has highlighted similar dynamics. Regions such as Donbas contain significant coal reserves, while parts of the Black Sea region are rich in oil and natural gas. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 was reinforced by strategic considerations, including control over energy routes and offshore resources, echoing earlier conflicts shaped in part by fossil-fuel interests. Russia's invasion of Ukraine effectively weaponised Europe's dependence on natural gas. Germany alone sourced about 55% of its natural gas from Moscow, despite its push to expand wind energy. In fact, the EU is among the largest buyers of Indian refined petroleum products, many of which, until recently, were produced using Russian crude oil.

A similar pattern appears to be emerging again, with the US asserting influence over Venezuela’s oil sector while intensifying pressure on Iran. Wars, sanctions on Iran, and proxy conflicts in Yemen are all shaped, to varying degrees, by competition over energy and strategic resource control. Fossil-fuel wealth often concentrates power in unstable regimes, heightening the risk of aggression.

Excessive reliance on fossil fuels has also contributed to global economic instability. Energy shocks, such as the oil crises of the 1970s, triggered global inflation and forced central banks into aggressive monetary tightening. While such measures eventually controlled inflation, they came at the cost of recessions, unemployment, and long-term economic damage, particularly in developing economies.

Even today, many countries face inflationary pressures driven by volatile energy prices, currency fluctuations, and geopolitical uncertainty. These challenges disproportionately affect emerging economies, increasing debt burdens and limiting investments in social welfare and sustainable development.

In an era in which fossil fuels continue to ignite conflicts from Ukraine to West Asia, it is time to recognise a broader truth: green energy is not just about climate; it also has implications for global peace. Unlike oil and gas, renewable energy sources such as sunlight, wind, and water are widely distributed and far less geographically concentrated. This reduces the incentive for territorial conflict and diminishes the strategic importance of controlling specific regions.

A decisive global shift toward renewable energy could fundamentally alter the structure of international relations. By reducing dependence on concentrated fossil fuel reserves, nations could lower the risk of conflict, stabilise economies, and redirect resources toward social development and environmental protection. In this way, green energy offers not only a solution to climate change but also a realistic pathway toward lasting global peace.

With China pledging to reach net zero by 2060 and India by 2070, the global shift toward renewable energy is accelerating. The US shale revolution offered only temporary relief. Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale is promising, but pivoting to renewables offers truer energy independence. Brazil's ethanol success halved oil imports; Africa's solar boom allows the continent to leapfrog carbon-intensive fuels. Israel's offshore gas fields buy time, but accelerating green energy ensures lasting security. 

Imagine a world where nations compete in clean-tech innovation, not in territorial conquest. India, scaling solar faster than most major economies, leads by example. By fostering energy independence, green transitions can blunt aggressive diplomacy. Leaders must prioritise this shift. The dividends—peace, stability, prosperity—await those bold enough to seize them. Hopefully, good sense will prevail, with the US reaffirming its climate commitments.