Energy security threats of globalization in the early 21st century

One of the biggest challenges of today is to ensure secure and sustainable environment for us and future generations. Strategic role of energy within international relations represent an important factor in this effort. This year, energy security is the European Union’s (EU) first energy priority since adoption of an Energy Union strategy in February last year. The United States (US) have been negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) as their economic priority with the EU where liquefied natural gas and renewables play a crucial role in the fields related to their potentially enhanced energy cooperation. Energy resources are limited, while people´s wants and needs grow constantly. The developments and discoveries in the field of energy affect international security environment as well as interests and choices of individual countries and alliances in the context of globalization processes. Energy markets are volatile, supply of goods and services is uncertain and social impact is reflected in inequality, economic risks, decreasing oil supplies, or in consequences of climate change and geopolitical security issues. Both market and geopolitical challenges have impact on energy security though the extent of the impact differs in time, size and actors. However, as Roger Nunn, President and General Manager of British Petrol Libya, said last March (2015), “If you get the politics right, security will follow.” The beginning of the twenty-first century was marked by Georgia crises, economic downturn, violent annexation of Crimea and political and security turmoil also in other neighbouring parts of the EU while the US has been undergoing its shale gas revolution. Nevertheless, both internal and external factors play a role in domestic and international energy security. This article focuses therefore on connecting constant changes and developments touching upon various dimensions of international political reality, especially with regards to recent challenges related to Russia’s power projection, US shale gas revolution and the EU´s enhanced building of its energy union.