Energy is a necessity for every society and a key to development and political stability, thus availability of natural resources is essential to national security. Furthermore unevenly distributed natural resources make countries increasingly interdependent, resulting in cooperation, but also conflicts affecting both national and international security.

1. NATO and Energy Security
Michael Rühle
Head, Energy Security Section
NATO Emerging Security Challenges
Division
13 June 2013

2. “The key is not to predict the future
but to be prepared for it”
Perikles

3. NATO’s Role in Energy Security
• Consultations among Allies and with partners
• Intelligence-sharing
• Exchange of Best Practices on Critical Energy
Infrastructure Protection (CEIP)
• Enhance capacity to support CEIP (e.g. in the
maritime domain)
• Dialogue with other institutions and the private
sector
• Promoting energy efficiency in the military

4. The Need for a Broader Perspective
• Vulnerabilities
– Cyber
– Terrorism
– Piracy
– Natural Disasters
• “Economization of Security” (M. Klare)
– Quest for resources risks trumping other
security considerations

5. Implications of Energy Developments
• Implications of US “energy independence” for
transatlantic relations
• Implications of Asia’s growing energy needs
• Implications of low gas prices for Russia’s
economy

6. The Resource/Conflict Nexus
• South China Sea disputes
• North-South Sudan
• Israel-Egypt

7. Energy and environmental change
• High North energy exploitation
• New shipping routes (incl. risk of accidents)
• Water management/Desertification

8. Training & Education
• Energy security awareness courses
• Scenario-building workshops
• Integrate energy into staff-level exercises

9. Improving the energy efficiency of
military forces
• Exchange national best practices on military
energy efficiency
• Set energy efficiency standards of equipment
and procedures
• Train military on saving energy and protecting
the environment

10. Forward-looking discussions
• Look at broader trends, not just at emerging
crises
• Bring other stakeholders (e.g. private sector)
into the dialogue
• Enhance in-house analytical toolbox

11. Conclusion: Applying Noah’s Rule
Predicting Rain doesn’t count. Building Arks does.