Energy Security and National Defense: Insights from the Dutch Roadmap

The Dutch Ministry of Defense has released its Energy Security Roadmap, a strategic document aimed at ensuring reliable energy supplies for its armed forces. This roadmap underscores a vital connection: energy security is closely tied to military power. It defines energy security as the continuous availability of reliable and affordable energy necessary for both peacetime activities and military operations. The document references NATO’s single fuel policy, which standardizes military logistics around liquid fossil fuels, particularly kerosene, to ensure interoperability among allied forces. Currently, over 95% of Dutch military aircraft, ships, and vehicles rely on hydrocarbons.

Despite this, proponents of the European Union’s decarbonization agenda continue to criticize fossil fuels while promoting wind and solar technologies, which account for just over 3% of global energy supplies after two decades of subsidies. The Dutch roadmap acknowledges EU decarbonization efforts, yet it emphasizes that the demand for liquid hydrocarbons cannot be met through climate rhetoric alone.

For U.S. policymakers, the implications of EU energy policy are significant when assessing the continent’s defense capabilities. The Dutch security document serves as a wake-up call, indicating that energy is not merely an environmental or economic concern but a fundamental issue of national security. Military readiness, economic strength, and national autonomy all hinge on access to abundant and reliable energy.

Historically, energy has been the cornerstone of state power. Nations with secure access to affordable energy tend to have stronger economies and military capabilities, allowing for greater freedom of action. Conversely, nations reliant on external energy suppliers risk exposure to coercion.

Current global energy trends reinforce this understanding. According to the 2026 Statistical Review of World Energy, fossil fuels accounted for 86% of global primary energy consumption. Despite advancements in renewable technologies, the world remains predominantly dependent on oil, natural gas, and coal. Many major powers are adapting to this reality, while the EU bureaucracy appears to overlook it.

China exemplifies this approach by expanding renewable energy generation while simultaneously increasing coal capacity and securing control over supply chains for strategic minerals. This strategy prioritizes energy availability and resilience, bolstering both economic and national security.

The intersection of energy policy and defense capability may expose vulnerabilities in the EU’s green initiatives. The European Union remains heavily reliant on imported energy and critical raw materials, with many industries facing significantly higher energy costs compared to their U.S. and Asian counterparts. This rising cost has led to pressures on key industries such as steel and chemicals, which are essential for national defense.

Military forces require not only fuel but also steel, chemicals, machinery, and advanced manufacturing capabilities. A nation that struggles to maintain competitive industrial production will find it challenging to produce the necessary military equipment during a crisis.

As the EU continues to vilify fossil fuels in the name of climate policy, industrial electricity prices have surged to about twice those in the U.S. and approximately 50% higher than in China. Last year, steel production in the EU fell to its lowest level since 1960, prompting companies like ThyssenKrupp to cut thousands of jobs in the steel sector. This trend of deindustrialization poses a threat to robust defense capabilities and national sovereignty.

NATO’s military effectiveness relies not only on budgets and troop numbers but also on the energy supplies and industrial infrastructure that support them. The Dutch strategy implicitly acknowledges that operational readiness begins with energy security.

In contrast, the United States has strengthened its strategic position through abundant domestic oil and gas production, which supports both economic growth and military power projection. Meanwhile, Europe has not fully capitalized on its domestic energy reserves, adhering to policies that may undermine the security of the West.

The key takeaway from the Dutch Energy Security Roadmap is clear: energy security is a prerequisite for national security. An alliance that aims to deter adversaries and maintain sovereignty cannot afford to overlook this critical connection.