US touts its power, avoids Iran war at G20 energy meeting

The United States emphasized its energy dominance during a G20 energy ministers meeting in Houston on Tuesday, while avoiding discussions about the impact of its war in Iran and environmental concerns. The meeting's slogan, "Unleash the full potential of American energy," echoed throughout Texas since it began on Monday. US officials claimed that President Donald Trump's policies represented a departure from his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, with EPA chief Lee Zeldin accusing Biden of promoting "climate alarmism" through renewable energy initiatives.

Interior Secretary Doug Bergum stated that the goal was to produce sufficient energy for prosperity domestically and to provide secure, affordable, and reliable energy for allies.

To address the increasing demand for electricity, driven by the artificial intelligence industry, the EPA announced a reduction in pollution limits from gas- and coal-fired power plants, which drew criticism from environmentalists. Since his return to the White House in 2025, Trump has pushed for increased oil production, a priority that has intensified following his military strikes on Iran with Israel on February 28.

At the Houston conference, where leaders from major economies, including China, India, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Canada, convened with oil powers, discussions about the war in the Middle East were scarce. However, the industry's concerns were evident, with oil prices surging due to Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz and pro-Iranian Houthi forces gaining control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

John Kilduff, an analyst at Again Capital, likened the situation in the Middle East to a band without a drummer, emphasizing that the absence of Middle Eastern oil is crucial for the global energy industry. The US administration argued that domestic production holds the key to affordable, secure energy, stating that the lowest-priced energy in the world originates from the United States.

White House energy advisor Jarrod Agen emphasized the administration's aim to make the Western Hemisphere the center of affordable, reliable, and secure energy, spanning from Alaska to Argentina.

The US relies on Venezuela as a significant asset, having secured one-fifth of the country's oil reserves following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by US commandos. The new interim leader in Venezuela has become a US ally, and the country is expected to contribute to global oil supplies in the longer term. However, Venezuela's infrastructure, battered by decades of underinvestment, requires time to boost production.

Kenneth Medlock III, a fellow at the Baker Institute at Rice University, cautioned that a cold winter in Europe could be particularly challenging due to supply constraints.