ABSTRACT
The clout Russia carries in the energy sector translates into geopolitics which, in effect, may determine the country’s behaviour as far as energy security is concerned. This chapter seeks to address the question of to what extent geopolitics is still a relevant lens to analyse Russia and its energy security and how the country’s energy resources endowment is used to achieve Russia’s objectives elsewhere in the world. Russia aims at increasing its importance as an energy supplier, not only in countable values (volumes or revenues), but also in terms of strategic decision-making and global geopolitical ambitions. The chapter describes two key aspects of Russia’s quest for influence, one being its involvement in international energy fora and groups through the lens of energy transition, the second being the implementation of ambitious and visionary projects having a potential impact on energy geopolitics, such as the Northern Sea Route.
