Trump’s bid to reshape the global energy order

From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power

In January 2025, US President Donald Trump began his second term with a clear objective: to lower oil prices below the levels prevailing under the previous administration. In response, OPEC increased supply, and Brent ended 2025 at $60/bl. In July 2025, Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed on a high-level transatlantic trade framework under which the EU committed to purchasing $750b in US energy over the next three years. In practice, US energy exports to the EU during that period are far more likely to reach around $210b. Bridging the gap to the $750b headline figure would require the Commission to actively encourage EU buyers to sign long-term US LNG contract