SECURITIZATION OF OIL AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Background and Purpose: The oil crises of the 1970s revealed the vulnerability of the United States to disruptions in global oil supply. These events pushed policymakers to frame oil not only as an economic commodity but as a national security concern. This article examines how the securitization of oil shaped U.S. foreign policy from the 1970s onward.
Methods: The study uses qualitative historical analysis and applies securitization theory from the Copenhagen School to evaluate policy documents, historical records, and academic literature. It traces how political leaders constructed oil as a security threat and how this framing influenced U.S. policy responses.
Results: Findings show that the 1973 Oil Embargo and the 1979 Energy Crisis triggered a durable shift in U.S. strategic thinking. Oil became embedded in national security discourse, legitimizing extraordinary measures such as the Carter Doctrine, a permanent military presence in the Persian Gulf, strengthened alliances, and long-term energy diversification measures. The securitization of oil also produced unintended geopolitical consequences.
Conclusion: Oil securitization reshaped U.S. foreign policy by reinforcing a cycle in which perceived threats to energy access justified increased military and diplomatic engagement. With global energy transitions accelerating, more sustainable approaches emphasizing diplomacy and diversification are needed.