ABSTRACT

In April 1977, at a meeting of the Council on Foreign Relations, Mr. Levy extended his argument for a more intensive commitment to a national and international energy policy. There could be no "Energy Fortress America for the situations of allies and developing countries put the obtaining of oil in a context of complex global relationships. In establishing its policy the Government must undoubtedly take into account that there can be no "Energy Fortress America." Any US energy policy can only be viable within our given political, economic, financial and strategic framework if it is coordinated with the vital interests and actions of the other member nations of the non-Communist world. Long before limitations on the physical availability of oil would occur, producing countries might impose politically or economically motivated restrictions on the level of their oil production and exports. The United States thus possesses an indispensable— but not necessarily always effective—position of special influence and bargaining leverage.