As the U.S. conflict with Iran continues to unfold, global energy markets are feeling the pressure. Escalating tensions have put the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply, squarely at risk, sending price volatility surging and exposing the fragility of global energy systems. In moments like this, the lesson is unmistakable: Energy security is national security.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has proven its role as a stabilizing force in global energy markets. U.S. LNG exports helped keep Europe afloat after the collapse of Russian pipeline supplies. Now, as instability in the Middle East threatens to trigger another supply shock, that trans-Atlantic energy partnership is not just important, it is indispensable.