Energy sovereignty in an interconnected world: aligning national priorities, markets and global security

Energy sovereignty is now a core policy priority, but no country can fully insulate itself from global energy markets, technology systems, capital flows or supply chain shocks. The central question is not whether nations can eliminate dependency, but how they identify and manage the dependencies that matter most. Governments are reassessing exposure across fuels, minerals, processing capacity, grid equipment and digital systems, each with different security implications and mitigation costs. China holds around 80% of global solar manufacturing capacity and roughly 75% of battery production; 11 of the 20 minerals critical to the energy transition faced export controls at some point in 2025, demonstrating how dependencies can become instruments of geopolitical leverage. Europe's experience with Russian energy reinforces that resilience must be weighed against affordability and competitiveness. The countries that govern dependency with clarity, rather than react in crisis, will be better placed to protect energy security while remaining connected to global capital and innovation.