As US-China rivalry escalates, China’s new export curbs on rare earths have exposed NATO’s dangerous dependence on external suppliers for the minerals underpinning its defence industries. Daniel Lincoln argues that the Alliance must develop a unified industrial strategy to secure access to critical materials, independent of both Washington and Beijing. By building diversified supply chains, joint stockpiles, and integrated processing capacity, he contends that NATO can turn resource vulnerability into strategic resilience.
Tag: Energy Security
Italy Anchors Azerbaijan’s Gas Push to Europe
Azerbaijan and Italy are tightening energy ties, and this is having system-wide Euro-Caspian effects. In September, it was reported that SOCAR agreed to acquire Italiana Petroli, one of Italy’s largest fuel retailers, pending approvals. This purchase does not add gas capacity on day one, but it does insert Azerbaijan directly into Italy’s downstream market, bringing Read More…
Financing the enemy: The limits of NATO’s strategic decoupling from Russian fossil fuels
Despite vocally supporting Ukraine, between February 2022 and February 2025, NATO countries paid more to Russia for energy imports than they provided in aid to Ukraine. This article analyzes the limits of NATO’s strategic decoupling from Russian fossil fuels and proposes concrete steps the alliance as a whole, and Canada in particular, should take to tackle this problem.
The Verdict of History: An Incomplete Peace Is a Dangerous Proposition
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2014, Moscow’s aggression against its neighbour has gone through several significant phases, from the annexation of Crimea, to mounting insurgency in the Donbas, to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine proper in 2022 and a subsequent seesaw of back-and-forth offensives. With the Trump Administration in full swing, the Read More…
NATO Countries Seek to Import Electricity from the Caspian Sea Region
Dr. Robert Cutler discusses recent developments in the cooperation of Azerbaijan with European and NATO energy policy.
European Pipeline Expansion for Azerbaijan’s Gas Gets Back Under Way
Dr. Robert M. Cutler covers the European pipeline expansion for Azerbaijan’s gas and its contribution to Azerbaijan’s emergence as a pivotal player in European energy security.
Southern Gas Corridor Meeting Deepens EU–Azerbaijan Energy Cooperation
Dr. Robert Cutler writes on the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council, which he describes as an important milestone in EU-Azerbaijani energy relations.
Abu Dhabi Buy-in to Caspian Sea Gas Enhances European Energy Security
Dr. Cutler writes about Abu Dhabi’s landmark deal in the Caspian Sea and its strategic significance for European energy geopolitics.
Serbian Gas Deal Continues Azerbaijan’s Penetration of South-East European Energy Markets
In this article, Dr. Cutler outlines the new Serbian gas deal with Azerbaijan in the context of European energy trends and policies, as well as the BRUA pipeline project.
Where in the Caspian Region Will Europe Get Its Gas?
In this article, NATO Association Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Energy Security program, Robert M. Cutler, discusses Europe’s Prospects for Caspian-region gas imports, including the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline Project (TCGP) project.









