ABSTRACT
The design of comprehensive and coherent national energy policy aligned with the international energy program of the International Energy Agency (IEA) is a prerequisite to sustained leadership on world energy issues. The energy crisis enabled the United States to capitalize on the concern over the adequacy of supply price of oil to reestablish its influence and leadership in transatlantic relations. The members of the IEA can be distinguished by the scope of their international political interests and responsibilities and by the degree of their energy dependence. The variation in political interests and domestic resources suggests many potential issues of conflict among the IEA states. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members would, in theory, acquire vested interests in the economic stability of industrial states through long-term investment of revenue surplus in the industrial economies. The industrial states would provide an assured market to OPEC countries and technological aid in their industrial development.
