Energy Geopolitics and Power Politics: The Roles of the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Emerging World Order

Abstract

This article examines the role of energy as a determinant of geopolitical power through the case of the United States, Israel, and Iran in the contemporary Middle East. The findings reveal that energy is not merely an economic resource but a “structure of power” that shapes state behavior and international relations. In the Middle Eastern context, the interactions among the United States, Israel, and Iran demonstrate how energy functions both as an instrument of power and as a site of conflict. The United States has shifted from a hegemonic power to a strategic balancer, maintaining influence through security architecture and global energy markets. Israel has leveraged natural gas resources to enhance its security and regional influence, while Iran employs energy as a tool of “resistance geopolitics” to challenge the U.S.-led order.Furthermore, the study argues that conflicts in the Middle East should be understood as structural conflicts centered on the control of energy resources and transportation routes, rather than solely ideological or religious disputes. Proxy wars and pipeline politics illustrate indirect forms of power competition among states.At the macro level, the transition toward a multipolar international system has intensified and complicated energy competition. Although U.S. dominance has relatively declined, it remains a key actor, while the rising roles of China and Russia are reshaping the regional balance of power.The article concludes that energy remains central to contemporary geopolitics and plays a crucial role in shaping the emerging world order.