Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
Letter from the Middle East: LNG – the weak link the Gulf crisis just exposed
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny
As the Mideast Gulf crisis unfolds, oil may dominate the spotlight, but LNG deserves equal attention. Recent events have exposed vulnerabilities in the LNG market at a time when it is expected to become a strategic pillar of global energy security and a cornerstone of the energy transition. Increasingly viewed as a fuel that offers both security and flexibility while supporting the shift toward cleaner energy, LNG now faces scrutiny over its exposure to geopolitical disruption. This, in turn, may raise broader questions about the resilience of the world’s energy transition strategy. Growing flexibility, yet enduring fragility Over the past several years, LNG’s role in the global energy syste
Also in this section
24 April 2026
The European Commission’s response to the Middle East crisis is to double down on its transition strategy, with plans for a new target on electrification
24 April 2026
A major new discovery by Eni and BP that can likely be fast-tracked to production is welcome news for Egypt as it scrambles to plug a widening supply gap and deal with rising import risks
24 April 2026
Countries in the region are turning to the cleaner-burning fuel for power generation, driving demand for imports
24 April 2026
The US has used booming shale production to massively expand its LNG infrastructure, but Canadian developments have not fare so well while in South America consumption outstrips production
