Energy Insecurity and Military Misadventures in the Persian Gulf Region

The article seeks to analyze the policy of USA as a self-proclaimed leader of a coalition representing the interest of the North as also its allies and supporters in the South, specially in the context of increasing sense of energy insecurity. This insecurity is caused by a combination of factors like the declining reserves in the North, continued reliance upon oil and gas for commercial energy, and the feeling that not only ‘rogue’ regimes but also non-state actors pose a threat to free flow of energy at affordable price. That sense of increasing insecurity has prompted the US-led coalition to seek to militarily dominate a substantial part of the oil and gas reserves of the Gulf region, especially after 2003. Of late, steps have also been contemplated to force these states to open their oil and gas sector to oil majors of the North. These policies are likely to be resented, especially at the popular level, in this sensitive region. It remains to be seen whether the policy of dominating the Gulf and its energy resources by stationing large military force will succeed or further add to the sense of insecurity.