Non-Conventional Energy Resources and the Position of Persian Gulf in Energy Security Policy of the United States

During the last decade and simultaneously with the increase of oil price in global markets, a new trend of US energy policy is being shaped in order to reduce US dependence on Persian Gulf oil and gas resources and to move towards energy self- efficiency through an increase of using non-conventional resources (Shell). The questions of this article are the followings; to what extent the exploitation of non-conventional energy has been effective in the implication of US energy self-sufficiency? What has been the impact of exploiting non-conventional energy resources on the importance of the Persian Gulf in US energy security strategy? The hypothesis of this article is that an increase of using non-conventional energy resources has been effective in the reduction of US dependence on Persian Gulf petroleum and can make this country a future rival for traditional energy producers. Decreasing US traditional interventions in Middle East as well as growing inclination to Asia- Pacific region, is a noticeable sign of changing importance of the Persian Gulf for US energy security strategy. Using neo-classic realism, the author tries to scrutinize US energy security policy as a part of its macro strategy of foreign policy.